January 2, 2024, was a miserable day for Brandon Clark. During a family vacation to Colorado, Brandon had been having trouble breathing. Some medicine provided a bit of relief, but his condition turned worse on the flight home.

“I was really struggling to breathe air in, and when I finally did, I couldn’t breathe it out,” says Brandon. “I was miserable the entire flight.” Brandon was feeling so bad that his wife, Lindey, suggested he go to a hospital in Nashville. “I told her that I would feel more comfortable close to home at Macon Community Hospital.”

Brandon was diagnosed with viral pneumonia. A combination of antibiotics, fluids and steroid cleared out his lungs after a two-night hospital stay. “The care I received was exceptional,” says Brandon, the third-generation owner of Clark Lumber Company. “The nurses were always checking on me, and the kitchen staff made sure my meals matched my appetite. Everyone was so friendly and kind.”

Dr. Hanna Ilia, a board-certified family physician with Macon Community Hospital, is Brandon’s primary care provider.  “Dr. Ilia came to see me in the hospital,” Brandon says. “He’s been my physician for about five years, and he’s always taken great care of me. I’ve had grandparents and extended family stay at Macon Community Hospital, and everyone raves about the exceptional care. This is a hospital that treats you with true Southern hospitality!”