Every day I think about the people who saved my life

Don Miller's angels at Lehigh Valley Hospital helped him recover from severe burns

On Dec. 20, 1999, my life changed forever.

I had worked as an electrician for almost 25 years. On this particular day, I was inside a generator. We all thought the electricity was shut down. But, it wasn't. Suddenly, I was shocked with more than 12,000 volts of electricity - that's 60 times the power in your home.

The next thing I remember is waking up in Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network's Burn Center two months later with third-degree burns over 60 percent of my body, hearing the soothing voices of my nurses and seeing their faces for the first time. I was fighting pneumonia, an abnormal heartbeat and other complications. There was only a 10 percent chance I would survive. But my Lehigh Valley Hospital burn team angels watched over me and never gave up.

That's why I wanted to do something for them by sharing my story and asking you to consider a gift to Lehigh Valley Hospital. Your gift will help make a real difference in the excellent care Lehigh Valley Hospital provides our community every day - from burn and trauma care, to pediatric specialty services and everything in between. Each gift we receive helps ensure the care that is needed most is available to all - close to home.

In addition to providing cutting-edge compassionate care, here are a few other ways charitable gifts to Lehigh Valley Hospital make a difference:

• Each year the hospital distributes more than 10,000 free flu shots to community members.
• A total of 34,106 community members attended free Healthy You programs, health fairs and educational programs. These programs focus on exercise and fitness, helath prevention and awareness, nutrition and wellness.

In my case, Lehigh Valley Hospital healed my physical wounds through advanced technological care and my spirit through unwavering compassion. I'll never forget when one of my surgeons sat by my bedside until midnight while we talked the night away. Every day I think about the people who saved my life, and how grateful I am for the physicians and nurses of Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Today, I focus on family especially my granddaughter, Alexia, pictured with me on the other side of this letter. If it weren't for her and the exceptional care I received, I never would have survived my accident. She motivated me to live, and Lehigh Valley Hospital caregivers game me every fighting chance.

I'm glad to know that Lehigh Valley Hospital will be here for my family and friends if they ever need care.

That's why I'm asking you to please join me today in giving a generous gift to support excellence at Lehigh Valley Hospital. Together we can help advance health care in our community and make it an even better place to live for our children and grandchildren.

Your support is important to help Lehigh Valley Hospital continue changing and saving lives. Please take a moment and make your online gift today!

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