Debra Johnston:
CLASS OF 1972
West High SchoolClass of 1972
Oshkosh, WI
Debra's Story
I have been very busy as usual. My job as a medical technologist is very stressful and demanding. I am constantly studying to keep up with the constant changes and new information. My special area of responsibility is coagulation which is fitting as I have my Master's in Pathology emphasis coagulation. I am not a specialist, though, at this time. I moved from Milwaukee where I was employed at St Luke's hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin. I now work in a small hospital where I am a generalist in areas of Chemistry, blood bank, microbiology, hematology, and coagulation.This hospital is part of the ACL network in WI and ILL which includes St Lukes .
I babysit for my 2 precious grandsons, 5 and 7, and for my sweet grand daughter who is 7 mo on my days off. They are the absolute joy of my life. They are a handful, though. Once again, the aging thing has taken its toll...Expand for more
on me so puppies and small children can be exhausting.
Oct 2011, I was diagnosed with a large hole in my heart, atrial septal defect which was congenital. My entire life made sense with that dx. I had heart surgery in Nov 2011 to insert an occluder into the hole by catheter. Four
months later the occluder cut a hole into the atrial wall and hit a vessel filling my pericardium with blood putting me into tamponade. I was able to call 911 before going unconscious. I was flighted to St. Luke's for emergency open heart surgery. I am doing much better but still recovering. I am still working part-time and have cut back on activities.
This last year has been quite a ride! I am one of the few who have survived an occluder failure. It is very rare.
My husband retired and is taking care of everything including me. We had a great time at the reunion! It is great to be alive!
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