Some moments stay with you forever. For Tracey, it was the first time she saw Garrick—two teenagers in the courtyard at Sonoma Valley High School, 40 years ago. She just knew. What she couldn’t have imagined was that, decades later, Garrick would go on to save her life.
Life took them in different directions, but in July 2022, fate brought them back together. After reconnecting, they married and were building a life together. Then, just nine months into their marriage, everything changed.
Tracey suffered a sudden, life-threatening brain aneurysm while at home with Garrick. In an instant, their world was turned upside down.
Garrick called 911 and stayed by her side. Within minutes, an ambulance rushed them to Sonoma Valley Hospital, where the Emergency Department team moved quickly to stabilize her. Garrick knew it was serious, and the medical staff didn’t shy away from the truth.
“They were incredible,” he remembers. “They were honest with me—it was serious—but they also spoke with kindness and compassion. That meant so much.”
Once Tracey was stabilized, she was transferred to UCSF for advanced care, but those first moments in the ER stayed with them. Months later, when she was strong enough, Tracey and Garrick returned—not for medical care, but to say thank you.
“It was important for us to go back,” Tracey says. “We wanted them to see me—walking, talking, healing. And we wanted to tell them, in person, how much their care meant to us.”
Recovery has been a journey. At first, Tracey needed in-home care, then outpatient therapy at the hospital. Having world-class care just five blocks from home made all the difference.
“Healing takes time,” she says. “There are appointments, challenges, and so many small steps forward. But knowing have a team—right here—coordinating my care, supporting me, and cheering me on has made all the difference.”
From the emergency physicians and nurses to the speech and occupational therapists who continue to be part of her recovery, Tracey and Garrick are deeply grateful for every person who has helped along the way.
“This hospital has become part of our story,” Tracey says. “And now, we want to give back—to support the people who have been there for us. From that afternoon in the ER to nearly two years of therapy, every step has mattered. Garrick and I often say that I’m a success story—and that wouldn’t be possible without Sonoma Valley Hospital. We hope the hospital sees me that way too. We feel incredibly grateful and lucky that this care was right here when we needed it most.”
For Tracey and Garrick, this is more than a story of survival—it’s a story of connection. A love that came full circle. A community that lifted them up. And a hospital that was there when they needed it most.