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An iPhone and Words With Friends Saved a Man’s Life

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The quick thinking of a Missouri couple and the help of an iPhone game has saved the life of Australian man. 

As reported by Kansas City’s Ozarks First, Blue Springs, MO resident Beth Legler has been a player of the Scrabble-like game Words With Friends for over two years. It was through the game that Mrs. Legler met Georgie and Simon Fletcher, residents of Australia.

Words With Friends Diagnosis

Three months ago, during a session of the game between Beth Legler and Georgie Fletcher, Mrs. Fletcher mentioned that her husband was feeling ill. As Mrs. Legler’s husband is a doctor, she asked Mrs. Fletcher to describe her husband’s symptoms via the chat feature of the game. Upon reading the symptoms, Mr. Legler insisted that Mr. Fletcher go to a hospital immediately.

It was good advice: Mr. Fletcher was discovered to have near total blockage of an artery near his heart. Doctors claim that had he not been admitted to the hospital and the blockage discovered that day, it is very likely he would have died.

“Had Larry not sent that message I don’t think Simon would have gone to the doctor that day,” Mrs. Legler said.

“Had I not had that random opponent all that time ago…” Mrs. Fletcher mused of the situation, “I just think Beth and I were meant to meet on this game.”

In this world of increasing digital communication, it was an iPhone game, and a fortuitous opponent half a world away, that saved a life.

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10 Observer Comments

Can we maybe hear what symptoms they were? So more than just this one person can be saved?

What were the symptoms?  Might save other people if they can read it

There is an app for that, iTriage, I have a copy. However, I am glad that the game was able to help.

There is an app for that, iTriage, I have a copy.

Lee ~ Seriously, iTriage is an app?

Yes iJack. I am on my iPad which doesn’t let me copy the link to it in the App Store, but here is the developer’s website.

http://www.itriagehealth.com/get-mobile

It is a class app, very well done.

It is a class app, very well done.

And you use it?  Are you a Doctor, or EMT, or something?

No I am not a doctor nor an EMT. Just a guy who isn’t afraid to give first aid and have had some training when I was Navy. I usually use the app for looking up symptoms, medication side effects and such; when there is a trauma you don’t have time to read the instructions.

   Actions geoduck said on January 13th, 2012 at 10:07 PM (Edited: 01/26/2012 2:46 PM):

There is an app for that, iTriage,

Thank you for the suggestion. I hadn’t heard about iTriage. I just downloaded it. Hope I never need it but I have it now.

Best of all it’s free.

Thanks again, you did your good deed of the day.

   Actions wab95 said on January 14th, 2012 at 4:53 PM (Edited: 03/16/2012 11:41 PM):

This is a great story.

iTriage is a terrific app, both conceptually and in execution. Great recommendation, Lee.

It is particularly useful for people with chronic or underlying conditions. Studies across age groups have shown that the more proactive such people are in managing their condition, and in triaging themselves to physician visits, the more likely they are to survive adverse events and extend their lives.

Having just tended a sick traveller on an international flight who had an underlying health issue a couple of days ago (something that happens more frequently than it should), I can vouch for the need for better education and proactive self management.

   Actions Bill Barnard said on January 15th, 2012 at 10:04 PM:

God is good!!!

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