ARLINGTON, Texas — Cathy Johnson, 56, of Arlington had often heard comments from family and friends about how lovingly her boyfriend, Shannon Hicks, 51, would look at her. It was something she never quite understood until he proposed in 2020. So, the thought of almost losing her husband to COVID is painful to remember.
Cathy and Shannon Hicks with caregivers at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital.
“It was a very intimate proposal, and the way he looked at me showed how much he loved me,” said Johnson. “He got me good.”
The newly engaged couple, who met on a dating app four years ago, went through some difficult times when Hicks’ health took a turn for the worse after he tested positive for COVID-19 in early 2021. Johnson, who previously worked in Compliance at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, didn’t think twice about where to take him after noticing he was having difficulty breathing.
Hicks was admitted to Texas Health Arlington Memorial, where he was soon taken to the ICU and placed on a ventilator. The first time he came off the ventilator, Hicks experienced cardiac arrest. The medical staff performed CPR for more than seven minutes, and their hard work saved his life.
Johnson was able to welcome Hicks home two weeks later, and he began his journey to recovery. While planning for their wedding and working on their registry, the couple agreed to ask friends and family to make donations to Texas Health Arlington Memorial instead of buying them gifts, as a way of giving thanks.
“We would not be able to walk down the aisle on our wedding day without the help of everyone at Texas Health Arlington Memorial,” said Johnson at their Sept. 4 nuptials.
Through a donation webpage set up by Texas Health Resources Foundation staff, they raised $11,750.
“We are very thankful and appreciative for donors like Cathy and Shannon,” said Laura McWhorter, president, Texas Health Resources Foundation. “Donations like these help us support patient care needs, support vital community programs, provide caregiver education, and respond to the greatest technology and capital needs across the Texas Health system.”
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About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources is a faith-based, nonprofit health system that cares for more patients in North Texas than any other provider. With a service area that consists of 16 counties and more than 7 million people, the system is committed to providing quality, coordinated care through its Texas Health Physicians Group and 29 hospital locations under the banners of Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial, Texas Health Harris Methodist and Texas Health Huguley. Texas Health access points and services, ranging from acute-care hospitals and trauma centers to outpatient facilities and home health and preventive services, provide the full continuum of care for all stages of life. The system has more than 4,100 licensed hospital beds, 6,400 physicians with active staff privileges and more than 26,000 employees. For more information about Texas Health, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org.