BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Dr. Zenko Hrynkiw, a surgeon from Alabama was at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham, Tuesday morning when he received word that a patient at Trinity Medical Center needed emergency brain surgery.
Hrynkiw, Trinity Medical Center’s only neurosurgeon, walked six to eight miles during Tuesday’s snowstorm that locked down traffic, due to which the neurosurgeon didn’t get farther than a few blocks.
“The cell service was bad so we were fading in and out,” said Steve Davis, charge nurse in the neuro intensive care unit at Trinity. I only heard two words, ‘I’m walking.’
Davis told that both local authorities and Trinity tried to provide transportation for Hrynkiw, but to no avail.
He estimates that it took Hrynkiw about five hours to get to Trinity. At around 12:30 p.m., the surgeon called again. “I’m walking in the door,” Hrynkiw said. “Where’s the patient?”
“Without the surgery, the patient would have most likely died,” Davis said.
Davis who is working with the hospital from last 10 years said Hyrnkiw’s actions didn’t surprise him.
“He’s on call about 330 days a year,” Davis said. “He’s dedicated. Right before we started the surgery, I told him, ‘You’re a good man.'”
“This just speaks volumes to the dedication of the man,” Davis said. “When I saw him, all I could say is ‘you are a good man.’
Davis said Hrynkiw takes good care of him and frequently walks for exercise.
Hyrnkiw responded: “I’m just doing my job.”
