I was hospitalized recently and was stunned by the care I received.

We all know our local hospital is failing. There was no wash basins with a bar of soap, no clean robes every day, not even a toothbrush or comb. Our hospital is sinking to extremes beyond recovery by all economical standards.

WRONG! I discovered that the medical caregivers employed at Dickinson Memorial are not just employees. They are angels. They work long shifts. Not just eight-hour days, but 16- to 18-hour days. I never heard a single complaint from any of these weary warriors. They are short of help and short of supplies — my observation — and yet, Dickinson County citizens have loyal, kind, compassionate, professional specialists in specific medical fields, doctors and nurses, in all levels.

One patient down the hall had vomited. I could hear it. I did not hear a call to housekeeping for a person with a pail of water to come and clean the floor, stat. What I heard was the voice of the nurse, saying, “Are you okay?” to the patient. Then I saw the nurse pushing along a mop bucket and mop to that lady’s room. The nurse cleaned the floor! Some may think they should have. I know it is not in their job description. I never once heard any of the medical staff complain about the added work loads they now have.

If our Dickinson County committees cannot figure out a financial way to save our hospital, then they are as much at fault as the hospital administrators themselves. We the citizens deserve better from our leaders and the loyal, caring and hard-working medical staff deserve a responsible employer who is held accountable for his or her actions as well.