Katie knows Sonoma Valley Hospital well. In her work with Vintage House, she regularly partners with the hospital team on programs like the Active Aging series, and often finds herself passing along compliments from the community.
But this spring, Katie wasn’t the one collecting feedback —she was the one living it.
“I was biking home from work and hit a patch of gravel. One second I was upright, and the next, the ground had slipped out from under me,” she said. In shock and in pain, Katie was brought to the Emergency Department at Sonoma Valley Hospital, unsure of what exactly had happened—but profoundly grateful that care was just minutes away.
“It was flu season, and the ER was packed,” Katie recalled. “But even so, from the moment I walked in, every single person I encountered was kind, calm, and welcoming. That matters so much when you’re vulnerable— when you don’t yet know what’s wrong.”
She soon learned she had fractured her collarbone and sacrum, injuries that would take time to heal. But in those early moments—scared, cold, and uncertain —what stood out most wasn’t just the diagnosis. It was the way she was treated.
“They brought me warm blankets. They smiled. They saw me,” Katie said. “The ER was beautiful and clean, and even though they were busy, I never felt like just a number.”
When it came time for X-rays and scans, Katie couldn’t move on her own. A pair of staff members carefully transferred her from the gurney with skill, compassion, and just the right touch of humor.
“They were incredible,” she said. “You could tell they worked really well together. Their energy made me feel safe, like I could exhale a little. I always try to keep a good attitude, and they reflected that right back to me.”
She had a CT scan to rule out any head trauma. “They got results back fast, and the doctor came in and told me, kindly and clearly, that my brain was okay. In that moment, I felt such relief.”
What stayed with her most, though, was how the entire team—from the nurses to the physician—handled her with intention and humanity.
“I know doctors are busy. But when he came in, he gave me his full attention. That moment mattered to me,” Katie said. “When you’re in a vulnerable state, just having someone be fully present can change everything.”
Now, months later, Katie is fully recovered and back on her bike—grateful for her healing, and for the care she received in the place she’s long known as a partner.
“We live in a small town, and this hospital gives you all the warmth of a small-town experience—but with the skills and facilities of a much larger center,” Katie said. “That combination is rare. And it’s such a gift.” Reflecting on her time in the ER, she offered a final thought: “You can’t always predict when life will demand your full attention. But when it does, I hope everyone has a team like this one. They were calm in the chaos. They made me feel human. They made me feel okay.”
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