My 82-year-old dad works as a host at the McDonald’s at 806 S. Main St., Normal. He is very proud of his job and works hard to keep things clean and orderly. But his favorite part of the job is meeting and greeting people. He has made many friends.

It just so happens that those friends had a part in saving his life.

On Nov. 2, my dad arrived at work after driving from home in a very confused and erratic state of mind. He was only able to make unintelligible sounds as his boss, Roger Ashbremmer, tried talking to him.

Quickly sensing something to be terribly wrong, Laura, a McDonald’s manager, insisted on calling the ambulance, which took him to the St. Joseph’s Medical Center emergency room.

My dad suffered a serious stroke that morning, but is now home with very minimal effects from it.

We were told over and over how fortunate my dad is. McDonald’s staff acted quickly enough for my dad to be able to receive a drug, Activase, which has to be administered within three hours of the stroke’s onset.

The OSF emergency team and ICU had many angels working that morning. We are so grateful to each one of them. But had it not been for Roger and Laura at McDonald’s, my dad would not have come through this so well.

We are grateful to so many people for their help and their prayers. My dad got his life back and “we’re lovin’ it.”

Sue Wolf, El Paso

This letter was written on behalf of the family of Bill Morse.