Vaughn Hansen had just turned 51. Having recently completed a year's apprenticeship, he was looking forward to a new job in metal working that would provide his family with a solid income and enable their high school son to attend college.
On Christmas Eve, increasing nausea, cold sweats and a very slight pressure on his chest drove Vaughn to seek out the local hospital's emergency room. Diagnosed with pneumonia, he was given an antibiotic and sent home. The antibiotic did indeed help reduce the symptoms, but four days later, Vaughn died of a massive coronary.