HAZLETON, Pa. — For over 40 years, Damenti's Restaurant has served the West Hazleton community with a fine dining experience. After the restaurant owner suffered a heart attack back in January, he is giving back to the hospital that cared for him.
Kevin McDonald, the owner, continues to serve the Hazleton community with the help of the George Macdonald Foundation Organization. Kevin was able to donate $5,000 to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Hazleton.
After McDonald suffered a heart attack back in January, he was taken care of there and at its Cedar Crest location. McDonald says the donation shows his gratitude for the exceptional care he received.
"So I decided to make a gift, and that's what we're doing today. I might not, would've been here if it wasn't for the hospital," said Kevin McDonald, Damenti's Owner.
Mcdonald says when he first felt pain in his chest, he didn't think much of it. Not knowing he had just suffered a heart attack. Days later, he felt chest pains again. This time, he called an ambulance. Nicole McFarland was an EMT on board that ambulance that day.
"He did not want to go to the hospital. He kept asking if it was necessary if he really needed to, but luckily, my partner and I were able to convince him to go, and I'm very glad we were able to convince him to go to the hospital," said Nicole Mcfarland, EMT Sugarloaf Fire Company.
McDonald was then transferred for emergency triple bypass surgery at the Cedar Crest location in Allentown. He says the staff made everything smoother than he ever anticipated.
"In reality, looking back, it was easy. You know, a couple of trips to Allentown, but once I got out of the hospital, which wasn't a tremendous stay. I forget six, 8, 10 days tops."
McDonald received all of the aftercare in Hazleton and continues to use the gym at the health and wellness center. Officials from LVHN say Kevin's donation will go toward the Thomas L. Kennedy Community Health Fund.
"It extends anywhere from mental health or adolescence to rehabilitative services, to patients that can't have ends meet," said Nick Tuozzolo, LVHN Hazleton Gift Officer.
Although McDonald says he feels this is just a small gesture on his part, officials at the hospital agreed it makes a big impact.