With Gratitude: Patient Stories

By any measure, Bennett Hirsch has led a very physically active life. Among many other things, he’s been a marathon runner, ski instructor, sailor, and mountain climber. He’s done all of it with great gusto, too ... Unfortunately, the impact of Bennett’s ultra demanding athletic pursuits on his body has been no laughing matter. “I really destroyed my back over the years,” he concedes.

Ed Smith was born at Newport Hospital in 1948. Both of his sons were born here too, as were three of his grandchildren. So, when he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) at the hospital in 2015, he knew he was in the right place and would get the right care.

Just before Christmas in 2021, Martha Hunnewell contracted COVID. She quickly developed serious complications and, sadly, passed away a few short weeks later.  She was 77. 

For about a week in January of 2022, Hillary Dutton was experiencing what she described as “subtle abdominal discomfort” on her lower right side. Even though the pain grew gradually in intensity, Hillary said it never got excruciating or unbearable for her. Still, at the encouragement of friends, she decided to visit the ED at Newport Hospital just to be on the safe side.