[5 min read]
In this article:
- Lee Stanley's late son Peter was a Providence Swedish caregiver beloved by his colleagues, enjoying a genuine friendship with his co-workers that extended beyond the workplace.
- When Stanley needed heart surgery, she turned to the experts at Providence Swedish who went above and beyond to help her arrange care, prepare for a complex series of procedures and apply for a study to learn more about her condition.
- To show her gratitude, Stanley donated her study screening stipend to Swedish.
- Learn more about Stanley and how the generosity of donors to the Swedish Foundation make lifesaving care and research possible.
Long before she ever needed care from Providence Swedish, Lee Stanley was already an ardent admirer of Washington’s largest nonprofit health care provider.
That admiration began with seeing how beloved her son, Peter, was by his colleagues at Providence Swedish’s sleep medicine team before he passed away at 41 from a heart attack in 2007.
“They were not just employees who worked together. They were friends — genuine friends — who connected beyond the job,” says Stanley, 90, who lives in Sequim. “Even after working five days a week, they would still get together. Their friendship continued beyond the office.”
A son’s legacy, a mother’s gratitude
That appreciation of Providence Swedish deepened after Peter’s memorial service near Bremerton, where he’d bought and renovated an old firehouse.
“I was amazed at the people who came,” Stanley says. “It meant they took their Saturday to come and share their memories of Peter. As a mother who had just lost a son, it was so rewarding to know that where he worked brought him so much pleasure. Nothing’s ever going to replace him not being here but just knowing he was loved and cared about so deeply meant so much to me.”
Seven years after Peter’s passing, Stanley’s bond with Providence Swedish grew even stronger when she learned she needed mitral valve heart surgery. The news wasn’t entirely a surprise; her grandfather carried a gene associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction.
“We’d been keeping a watch on my heart since I had a serious infection as a child,” Stanley says. “I’ve been on borrowed time since I was seven years old.”
Cardiologist Eric Lehr, M.D., Ph.D., performed Stanley’s surgery at Providence Swedish Cherry Hill, which also included two bypasses and a maze procedure to treat her atrial fibrillation. She eventually needed another mitral valve replacement, which led to a referral with structural heart and valve disease director Sameer A. Gafoor, M.D., who had Stanley sign up to see if she qualified for a new study to help repair aortic valves.
Strength in uncertainty
“I went into the whole thing with a 50/50 mindset. If it works, it’s meant to be. If not, it’s also meant to be,” Stanley says.
She didn’t qualify for the study because her previous mitral valve replacement didn’t leave enough space for the aortic valve procedure.
Though disappointed, Stanley was not devastated. One of the first things she did was write personal letters to Dr. Gafoor and clinical research coordinator Manya Gupta, expressing her appreciation for their support, care, and compassion. She also donated the stipend she received for the study screening back to Providence Swedish.
The people who made a difference
“Dr. Gafoor put in his energy, his knowledge, his background, his heart into my situation. I think he was slightly disappointed that it didn’t work out the way he hoped. I felt a sense of empathy there. He wants what’s best for you,” Stanley says. “I wanted him to know I had felt that — that I had been aware of his involvement in my health. I felt I was special, and that’s a gift.”
Stanley’s bond with Gupta was just as strong. The clinical research coordinator arranged for Stanley’s tests and appointments at Olympic Medical Center in Sequim, saving her time and long drives to Seattle.
“Manya was my advocate. She coordinated everything — appointments, tests — and made it all easy,” Stanley says. “When you’re under stress, that kind of support makes the road much easier to travel. They made me feel like a person — not a patient, not a statistic, but a woman who still has a life to lead.”
For Stanley, it all comes down to connection and the people who cared for her son, to the doctors who treated her, and to the community that stood by her through it all. Providence Swedish isn’t just a hospital in her story — it’s family.
“In this day and age, with so many needs and causes, it’s hard to choose where to give. But if we don’t have our health, we have nothing,” says Stanley, as she pets her seven-year-old black lab, Ghillie, in her living room. “Any donations I make now will go to the medical field and to Providence Swedish specifically. Providence Swedish has been such a big part of my life.”
Learn more and find a physician or advanced practice clinician (APC)
The team of specialists at the Providence Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute has access to the latest treatments and technology and the expertise to know how to use it safely and effectively. Call 206-320-4100 to learn more about the vascular care we offer.
Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Contact Swedish Primary Care to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician. You can also connect virtually with your doctor to review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. And with Swedish ExpressCare Virtual, you can receive treatment in minutes for common conditions such as colds, flu, urinary tract infections and more. You can use our provider directory to find a specialist or primary care physician near you.
Information for patients and visitors
About the Swedish Foundation
Your generous gift helps support a healthy tomorrow for everyone in every community we serve. Learn about more ways to give to the Swedish Foundation or make a direct donation online at swedishfoundation.org. You can also contact the Foundation at 206-368-2738 or email foundation@swedish.org. Thank you for helping us shape the future of healthcare. We can’t do it without you.
Additional resources
The Providence Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute is transforming cardiovascular care
A scientist’s smart watch detected an irregular heartbeat, which led to a life-changing diagnosis
115 years of philanthropy at Providence Swedish
TAVR was just the right procedure for one patient's "rusty" heart valve
Are you at risk for heart disease? Take this short quiz to learn more.
At Providence Swedish, comprehensive care for atrial fibrillation
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
Providence Swedish experts in the media
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
About the Author
More Content by Swedish Heart & Vascular Team
