As a hospital patient transporter, Tommy Bell was used to helping people get to and from procedures at the Florida facility he worked at − but he never expected to become a patient there himself.
While leaving work in November 2025, Bell, 62, felt a pain in his chest − like someone had "taken their knuckle and just slightly pushed," he described.
It subsided, then came back with more pressure. "It was more concerning this time," Bell said, prompting him to head back to the ER where he'd just ended his shift.
As soon as he flagged his symptoms, the team began a myriad of tests, which showed a buildup around his arteries and landed him in a hospital bed.
"I'm usually the one that helped, but this time, I'm the one being helped," he said. "I felt helpless."
