Dear Editor:

I would like to thank all of the people involved in my recent heart attack episode on Feb. 14, 2016. All of the well wishers, visitors, and phone calls were very much appreciated at a very scary time in our life. I guess we all think it will not happen to us, but when it does, we find out how really lucky we are. Lucky to have wonderful friends and family around us.

I would like to thank brother Bob and Glady for their numerous calls and words of encouragement. For Brenda’s family who visited and called often (especially Sandra), for all the calls and visits by friends. A special thank you to Mike Roberts for his special visit in my time of spiritual need. Thank you to the ER Crew at Miles Hospital. Their early morning professionalism was awesome. Maine Med -- what can I say about the doctors and staff. They truly have the best cardiac unit in the U.S. Thanks to Dr. Barker and his hospital-to-home team for all their help in getting me to work on a healthier and more nutritional lifestyle.

And finally, the Boothbay Region Ambulance crew. On one of the coldest, slipperiest days of the winter, they got called out in the wee hours of the morning. I know I will never see any more dedicated pair of individuals anywhere. From the moment they first started treating me in the ambulance to arriving at Miles, Kyle never missed a beat (no punt intended). His knowledge and attention to detail, warmth and compassion were only surpassed by his bedside manner. I never got his last name but I know a bit about him as we talked nonstop all the way to Maine Med. And now we come to Bridget Spofford and her nerves of steel. Cold, ice covered roads and cars off the road everywhere and she performed like a NASCAR driver. Special thanks goes out to this team and I will never forget what they did for me.

Again thank you to friends and family and thank you to the wonderful care providers. I’m here to tell you about it because of you all.

Leon Blackman

Boothbay