Gift Pledged in Support of Tyler Heart Institute

In moving from Minnesota to the Monterey Peninsula three years ago, Mike and Ann Lyon were told by real estate agents of the excellent healthcare available in their new community. It was good to know, but not something they needed to investigate or use. Yet.

About a year ago, Mike found himself in an emergency medical situation where he did need the finest healthcare available, and that brought him to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

"Suddenly, I found I needed the special care provided by the staff and facilities at the hospital's Tyler Heart Institute," he says. "I had the opportunity to gain intimate knowledge with the folks in the cath lab and Intensive Care Unit, having surgery in October. I was very, very impressed with all the medical staff & doctors, specialists, nurses, supporting staff, and particularly the morale of the people involved, and their follow up."

The real estate agents were right. Mike came out of his hospital experience with renewed good health and an appreciation for the Community Hospital healthcare system. He and Ann responded to the experience by pledging an extraordinary gift in support of the Tyler Heart Institute.

"Our contribution," he says, "is our way of recognizing the citizens of this community and the Community Hospital board of trustees for having the foresight to make a facility such as the Tyler Heart Institute available, and to attract the high quality of physicians and staff required to make it happen. Ann and I felt if we're going to be part of this community, there can't be a better investment than contributing to the ongoing development and continued improvement of the heart center."

Mike, who was in manufacturing, is enjoying semiretirement. The couple worked and raised their children in the Twin Cities area. When it was time to retire, a significant number of family members, including four children and 10 grandchildren, were living in Northern California. So they decided to uproot and transplant themselves to the West Coast.

"Determined to move to California, we started looking for areas that would serve our needs and interests and bring us closer to our family," he says. "We found a piece of property we enjoy in Pebble Beach, so we bought it and proceeded to do a major remodel. We moved in a year later."

The Lyons, who have spent a lot of time in California over the years, love living here, their new community, and having plenty of friends and family nearby.

"We like traveling, all the local activities, we like gardening, we like the wine and food, and the golf is great. What's not to like about this area?" says Ann. "We also appreciate the people we are meeting as we get more and more involved in the hospital."

"When you get into a situation that requires serious medical care," says Mike, "you have to decide where you're going to place your trust and confidence.

"There are many places around the country claiming to have the best facilities. We are very grateful to be able to stay near our home and to have the benefit of such an excellent care facility and staff at Community Hospital. It was all we could ever ask for.

"The directorship and management of this hospital have a long history of success. You can see it in the morale and support of its staff. We are very pleased to be here and hope that anyone who needs this special care can have the experiences we had. The main thing is that all the members of this community are able to utilize this hospital. Things worked out right for us, and we're fine. We received first, and then gave."