Patient credits Progress West Hospital care team for saving his life

When he was asked which hospital the ambulance should transport him to, the then 24-year-old Shaun Johnson wasn’t sure.  He was told Progress West Hospital was nearest, so Shaun agreed and the ambulance sped away from the urgent care center and headed for the Progress West Hospital emergency room.

Eleven years later, Shaun reflected on the importance of his decision.

“They told me Progress West was closest, so I chose it,” Shaun said. “I had never heard of it before, but that decision most likely saved my life.”

He was diagnosed with double pneumonia which developed into Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a serious lung condition that causes low blood oxygen.

Shaun was transferred to the ICU and placed in a RotoProne bed. He was put in a medically induced coma. “I went to sleep for over a month,” Shaun said.

His mother, Diane, and wife, Victoria, kept a journal, documenting the ups and downs of Shaun’s journey. His chances of surviving the illness looked bleak at times, and his family was dealing with the possibility that he would not pull through.  His oxygen levels remained dangerously low.

His care team never stopped working on his recovery, however, and Shaun eventually began to make improvements.

“People were surprised to see that I had made it through. I had 25 more friends when I woke up,” Shaun said, referring to his care team.

That team included Dr. Justin Ranes, Dr. Nat Levy, Dr. Nadia Zia, Dr. Rafael De La Cruz, Dr. Martin Schwarze (who recently retired) – Shaun is currently a patient of Dr. Brian Grus, N.P. Laura Hill and Dr. Michael Missler.

He is grateful for the recovery he’s made and noted that he has “a few minor health issues that serve as a reminder of the lifesaving effort of the amazing care team at Progress West.”

“I’m thankful for the skilled physicians on my care team and for everyone who works at Progress West Hospital,” Shaun said.  “I wouldn’t be here today without them.” 

Opening in 2007, Progress West Hospital joined Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital as BJC HealthCare’s hospitals in St. Charles County, and has had the opportunity to care for community members like Shaun for 15 years.

Pictured: Shaun with daughter Madelyn Grace and wife Victoria.