‘Heart Surgeon #1’ From ‘The Office’ Crowdfunds for Medical Bills After Heart Attack

On the morning of Hide’s first day returning to work after months without it, he experienced chest pains and was quickly admitted to an ICU.

Hide’s wife, Noriko, posted about the health crisis last Tuesday on his Instagram page, with a photo of him hooked up to a ventilator.

Over the week, Noriko updated her husband’s health on his Instagram. She documented how he was fighting for his life for the first couple of nights in the hospital, experienced a panic attack, and later had trouble sleeping from possible trauma through the whole ordeal.

On Oct. 6, their son organized a GoFundMe on their behalf and Noriko called on the public’s help with the incoming hospital bills.

She expressed her shame and embarrassment in doing so but wrote “we were heavily impacted by coronavirus and we both lost our income since March. Right when we thought we got out of unemployment, this happened.”

As of this writing, the fundraiser reached more than $32,000 of its $50,000 goal. Fans continue to flood the comments with their wishes for his recovery.

Hide was later discharged on Wednesday, posting his heartfelt thanks to the love and support from his fans, and to the “American doctor” who saved his life.

Hide’s reoccurring side character named Hidetoshi Hasagawa was a warehouse worker. Ironically, the running joke throughout the show was his catchphrase, “In Japan, heart surgeon number one.”

 

“You guys, the best,” he said in his latest post, wearing a “Dunder Mifflin Paper Company” shirt while posing with his character’s signature “two thumbs up.”

Feature Image via @hidetoshiimura