Dear Friends at Wichita Lifeline,

When my social worker told me that regardless of having diabetes, high blood pressure, and a history of falls, I thought (how wrong I was) that the doctors, pills, and checkups were all I needed.

I am a female, 73 years old, and I live alone. I have a wonderful caring son and daughter-in-law who live about 30 miles away. I am friends with all of my neighbors but I have always been very reluctant to depend on or burden anyone with my problems. I manage as best as I can.

It was quite a shock and surprise when last week I suddenly found myself shaking, light headed, and dizzy. I made my way to the living room using the walls for support. I began to feel very weak so I tried to make it over to the couch to rest awhile. I never made it. I tripped on the rug I had in the middle of the floor and fell to the floor. I landed on my left leg and I was in severe pain. I couldn't get to my feet nor could I crawl to the phone, which was on the other side of the room.
Luckily, for my sake I was wearing the personal help button that Lifeline gave me last week. I pressed the button that I wore around my neck and was immediately calmer and my panic was gone. In a few minutes, paramedics were in my house and soon after I was taken to Wesley hospital.

Having the Lifeline system, that I didn't want, saved my life! Without it I might have gone into shock and passed out and it would have been hours later that my neighbors or relatives would realize that I wasn't answering my phone and something was wrong.

I would strongly recommend Lifeline to everyone regardless of thinking as I originally did, that I did not need the alarm button. I was wrong.

Thank you,

*Sally Smith (subscribers name has been changed).