Patient Stories

Get inspired by this story from real patients of the Good Samaritan Hospital’s (GSH) Samaritan Sleep Center.

Ina Green: Breathing Easier

Ina Green knew she wasn’t getting a good night’s rest. She slept fitfully—waking up frequently, snoring, not being able to go back to sleep—but blamed it on menopause. The situation became more serious when Ray, her husband, realized Ina stopped breathing for short periods of time at night. “I insisted that Ina get checked out,” Ray said.

Ironically, Ray began have snoring and breathing problems, too. Although Ina initially saw another doctor for her condition, they both decided to go to GSH’s Samaritan Sleep Center for help.

Working with the sleep specialists at Samaritan Sleep Center, Ray and Ina both participated in an overnight sleep study. After the evaluation, they met with Dr. C.N. Reddy, who explained the test results.

Today, Ray and Ina are breathing easier and sleeping better. They each use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine at night when sleeping. The nasal CPAP delivers air into the airway through a specially designed nasal mask or pillows. This helps reduce and prevent sleep apnea, pauses in breathing during sleep, and snoring.

“One of the best things about the GSH Sleep Center is the monthly support classes we attend,” Ina said. “We found out that we are not alone and that thousands of people are dealing with similar sleep issues.” The educational classes have made the Greens more aware of sleeping disorders, and they now actively share this information with family and friends.

“Anytime we need anything, the Sleep Center is there for us,” Ray explained. “We know they will always call us back and follow up. They want us to succeed with our treatment and with the CPAP machines. The doctors and the staff are fantastic, and everyone goes above and beyond the call of duty. Our relationship with the Sleep Center has been a lifesaving experience.”