Gary Kirke thought he would be a hero. He did not rescue children from a burning building and he did not invent a cure for AIDS, but his deed could have been just as heroic. In fact, he would have been my hero.

According to the Des Moines Register, Kirke attempted to buy the financially unstable Metropolitan Hospital after a couple of associates pitched him the idea. He thought a doctor-run hospital was a great idea for the community, and he was convinced that it could compete with hospital giants Mercy and Methodist. However, the monetary capabilities of the hospital were overestimated.

Currently it appears that Mercy is going to buy Metropolitan and Kirke is going to be out a large chunk of change. There looks to be no hope for the failing hospital.

Currently, the hospital has only its emergency room open, as well as a few other departments needed to assist the E.R. The 220-bed facility seems to be going to waste.

This is not only a shame, it’s an all-out tragedy. This hospital has been serving Des Moines since 1896, although the original name was different. But most Des Moines residents know it as General Hospital, which was the name of the establishment from 1916 to 2000. General Hospital was the first hospital west of the Mississippi River to use the X-ray machine as well as create an intensive care unit. The institution is a landmark.

But enough already with the history lesson. No one really cares about the facts of the foundation. To me, General is important for more than just its innovations and longevity of servitude.

I have a very strong and very understandable attachment to this hospital. Everything about this place is sacred to me – the beds, the rooms, the elevator. Even the parking lot is like a sanctuary to me. General Hospital, this holy haven, is where my mother’s life was saved.

It all took place in October 1999 when I was a junior in high school. One night I walked in my front door to find my father standing there, waiting for me. As I got closer to him I realized he was crying.

At the same time I saw my sister sitting at the counter, her face red and tears rolling down her cheeks. My mother was no where in sight. My father took me in his arms and told me Mom was in the hospital. My first thought was that she was in a car accident, but actually it was much worse.

My mother had cancer. But the most horrible part of it all was my father, a doctor, could not assure me that she would be OK.

My mother was in the hospital for a week. She went through several tests and finally surgery. I drove out to see her whenever I had the chance. It was the longest week of my life. But leave it to my mother to lighten the air. We all should have known she would be fine when she corrected my sister’s grammar while still half passed out from the anesthetic.

Two and a half years later, my mother has no signs of cancer. Her cancer, in her colon, was very severe and if it had gone untreated much longer she might not be here today.

My mother’s life is not the only life General Hospital has saved. In the century it has been open I have no doubt that it has saved too many individuals to count.

Kirke would have been my hero if he could have kept the hospital open. I pray that Mercy will try to. This hospital has saved so many people, I hope someone will save it. From my point of view, it is worth keeping around for another century.

Ayrel Clark is a freshman in pre-journalism and mass communications from Johnston.