It's not often a person says he's disappointed to end frequent trips to the hospital.

But that's exactly what Ron Dean said when he ended his 10-week cardiac rehabilitation stint at Backus. He knew he was going to miss his fellow patients and the staff with whom he developed such a close relationship during one of the hardest times in his life.

"I can't say enough about the people at Backus Hospital," the 65-year-old Franklin resident said. "It was a wonderful feeling."

Things weren't so wonderful when he fell ill last November, complaining of a rapidly beating heart. He rushed to see his physician, Hanna Kackielo, MD, who determined his heart was beating 190 beats per minute (a normal resting heartbeat is about 60-100 per minute). He was immediately sent by ambulance to Backus.

He was hospitalized for five days. Backus staff determined he suffered from atrial fibrillation, which is an irregularity of the heart's rhythm. James Healy, MD, helped get the condition under control, prescribed the proper medication and recommended cardiac rehabilitation.

Mr. Dean said his experience with the cardiac rehabilitation team was memorable, as he developed close relationships with staff and patients whom he saw three times per week.

"I hated to see it end," Mr. Dean said. "I enjoyed going."

Mr. Dean and his wife, Christine, have had several experiences at Backus, and he said they always come away impressed with the technology and, especially, the staff.

"I think we have one of the best facilities in Connecticut right here in Norwich. My wife and I are glad to support it," said Mr. Dean — who, along with Mrs. Dean, has a history of philanthropic support of the hospital.

He continually marvels at how Backus staff is able to treat patients with kindness and compassion even when the circumstances are less than ideal.

"If you stop and think of the number of patients hospital staff see in a day or a year — and they're dealing with people who are not feeling so good — it is amazing that everyone still has smiles on their faces," Mr. Dean said. "We have such a gem in our community."