Tom Simmons is a lifelong resident of the Lima region. He is a native of nearby Ada, Ohio, where he still lives and works as a college athletic director. Because of donors, this lifelong resident has the chance to live a long life.

“My arrival at St. Rita’s came as a complete shock,” Tom says. “I’ve been around athletes my whole life. I’ve always taken opportunities to exercise. I get after it. So, when my daughter convinced me to go to the hospital just to be safe, I had no idea I was having a heart attack.”

Tom had indeed suffered a massive heart attack. He required triple-bypass surgery and needed a valve repair. But that was just the beginning. As he was recovering from surgery, Tom suffered a stroke.

“When my nurse recognized my stroke symptoms, he was all over it,” says Tom. “He held up a picture of a cat and asked me what it was. I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t say it. That was probably the most frightening moment. I thought I was dying.”

Tom received treatment for his stroke in time and now barely shows any residual effects. He’s healed from his heart attack thanks to cardiac rehab and is living life to its fullest. He is so thankful for the donors that support Mercy Health — St. Rita’s Medical Center and make it a premier hospital capable of treating complex cardiac and neurological cases like his.

“There’s a song by the band Alabama called ‘Angels Among Us.’ I think of that as my theme song, because I met them in St. Rita’s. They took care of me. I get to hit ground balls to my grandson because of them. I’m forever grateful for that.”