From Hidden Brain Media, I'm Shankar Vedantam.

This is My Unsung Hero, stories where one person reached out to help another in a time of need.

My Unsung Hero is my therapist.

He said, it's okay.

I still love you.

You're still my best friend.

So if she hears this, I just want to say, thank you.

Today's story comes from Julie Labis.

About 25 years ago, Julie was scheduled to have her gallbladder removed.

But a few days before the procedure, she began having stomach

pain that she just couldn't ignore. When she called her doctor, he told her to go straight

to the emergency room.

We got to the ER, we checked in, gave them all the information and the reception said,

someone will be with you soon. So, you know, we sat and we waited and waited and the pain said someone will be with you soon so you know we sat and we waited and waited

and pain was getting worse and worse my husband went up again and said you know how much longer

same answer somebody will be with you soon and then we waited a little bit more and i couldn't sit

i had to stand up.

And at one point, I remember I was standing with my leaning against the wall,

with my hands up against the wall, my whole body was shaking,

and the pain was horrendous.

I'd never experienced pain like that before my entire life.

There was another lady in the same ER waiting to go in too.

...