Why I Give: Peter Basil
Why I Give: Peter Basil
Patient Peter Basil honored his physician with a gift to Scripps at the President’s Council level
The week after Thanksgiving 2020, Peter Basil, a 57-year-old chief technology officer from Cardiff, was feeling uncharacteristically fatigued and short of breath. Normally the picture of good health, he was unable to focus his eyes, his chest grew heavy and he developed a dry, unproductive cough. His wife was alarmed and drove him to the emergency department at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. He had COVID-19; they wouldn’t see each other again for 12 days.
As his condition worsened, the severity of it began to set in. “Maybe it was the brain fog, but it hadn’t occurred to me until then that I might not recover,” he says.
Peter Basil spent 12 days at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas receiving treatment for COVID-19. In gratitude for his care, Peter made a gift to honor his care team.
Basil chokes up when recalling his dedicated care team, including Scott Eisman, MD, physician operations executive and pulmonologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. “There’s a lot going on emotionally when you’re in such a dire condition. At one point I just needed to be assured, and I grabbed Dr. Eisman’s hand and he held mine back,” he says. “He’s extraordinarily talented and outstanding in his field, but he
took time to stop and hold my hand. That was big. It meant so much to me.”
Twelve days and countless treatments later, Peter was able to return home. “Everyone was there to help me win,” he says. “My doctors did their part and I did mine.” With profound respect and admiration for the treatment he received at Scripps, Peter made a gift to honor his physicians and caregivers at the President’s Council level. “This experience changed me,” he says. “My doctors went above and beyond to make me feel special. I want to ensure that for all future patients.”
Join Peter as a member of Scripps President’s Council
For four decades, Scripps President’s Council members have been at the forefront of giving to help heal, enhance and save lives. Enjoy the rewards of annual membership in this remarkable philanthropic group with an unrestricted gift of $1,000 or more.
When you join the President’s Council, you will enjoy all the benefits of membership, including:
- Complimentary parking at Scripps hospitals, clinics and other facilities
- A subscription to San Diego Health magazine
- Invitations to virtual health series to hear firsthand from Scripps leadership and physicians about clinical innovations and advances in medicine
- Exclusive invitations to virtual Scripps health briefings with President and CEO Chris Van Gorder
This content appeared in San Diego Health, a publication in partnership between Scripps and San Diego Magazine that celebrates the healthy spirit of San Diego.