Dameron Hospital | Health Outlook | Summer 2019

4 HEALTH OUTLOOK that they had agreed to call off the wedding because of his pending military deployment to Germany. After they parted, their separate journeys in life led them to other marriage partners. Knut’s wife of 42 years passed away in 2011. Jonee had married and settled in Stockton, eventually divorcing in 1994. While making arrangements to leave Germany before his retirement in 2014, Knut decided to sort through a jewelry box. He came upon Jonee’s high school ring, which she had given to him when they pledged themselves to each other as teenagers. With newly awakened PATIENT SUCCESS STORY: THE OGAARDS To live, laugh and love again DAMERON Hospital has a history of helping people feel like they have a new lease on life. Sometimes we come across wonderful examples of our patients’ care experiences that transcend the clinical restoration of health. The story of the Ogaards and how they came to be a part of the Dameron Hospital experience is a unique and touching tale of life, love and restored health. Knut (kuh-noot) Ogaard was born in Norway. He was 6 years old when his family emigrated to the United States and settled in East Los Angeles in 1954. After graduating from high school in 1967, he was drafted into the Army and sent to Germany, where he remained for the majority of his military career. Knut retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer in 1987. He continued as an Army civilian in Germany as a Public Works Master Planner until his second retirement in 2014. Together after 49 years It was just after this transition that Knut was finally able to marry his high school sweetheart, Jonee, to whom he was originally engaged in 1966. When asked about the long wait, he explains