Stanley Gee

Stanley Gee was born a fighter. In 1956, in a South Carolina hospital, Stanley came three months early. Weighing in at only two pounds, he spent the first two months of life in an incubator. So it was no surprise that Stanley fought hard to regain his life when he recently had a heart attack.

For the year before Stanley’s heart attack, he lived on his own, working full-time as a technology installer for Black Box. He was constantly on the road working long hours and eating fast food. Stanley said that he knew something wasn’t right for the last year. His energy was dwindling, and he didn’t have the energy to do anything but sit in the chair. As the pressure he felt in his chest grew, Stanley believed he was having indigestion. However, one day the pressure turned to pain, and Stanley called his daughter, Sarah, and then 911.

While Stanley was in the hospital, he underwent cardiac surgery. Unfortunately, Stanley suffered two more V-fib arrests. He went into cardiogenic shock, requiring placement on a ventilator and a special cardiac device that helps to pump the heart. “He required 17 cardiac shocks to bring his heart back to a normal rhythm,” Sarah shared. Once stabilized, Stanley remained on the ventilator for over two months and had the cardiac device in for about a month. Once the cardiac device was removed, Stanley transferred to Vibra Hospital of Richardson.

Sarah took her responsibility seriously as the primary decision-maker for her father’s care. She put a lot of effort into researching Vibra, including combing through reviews and touring the facility. Her father relied on her, and Sarah wanted the best for him. And she felt confident that the best place for Stanley was Vibra.

Once Stanley arrived at Vibra, the primary goal was to get him off the ventilator. He spent his stay with Vibra in the ICU, where outstanding respiratory therapists like Darling, Matt, and Deidra worked with the pulmonology team to wean him off the ventilator and remove the tracheostomy.

Recognizing the individuals that played an important role in his recovery, Stanley wished to extend his gratitude to them. “Naomi, Hide, and Monina went above and beyond, making sure that everything was in the right order,” he stated.

While Stanley is very grateful for the care of the staff at Vibra, he attributes all of his progress to his daughter Sarah. She never took “no” for an answer and is a fighter, just like her dad. Because she continued to ask questions and not give up, Stanley is still here fighting.

“My next step is to live my best life,” Stanley said. “Best and healthy life,” Sarah added with a smile. He wants to return to living independently, fixing computers, and spending as much time with his family as possible. He knows that if he sets these goals with the help of his family, he will be there soon.