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Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) cardiologist Eric S. Rothstein, MD, met Pete Meijer on one of the worst days of his life: in the DHMC catheterization lab, deploying a stent into his heart after he suffered a heart attack. But what nearly ended in tragedy resulted in a renewed love of music for the busy physician, and a lifelong friendship between doctor and patient.

As Rothstein and Meijer told Inside Edition, the two bonded over a shared love for classic rock as Rothstein played Pink Floyd while treating Meijer. After learning Rothstein is a drummer, Meijer invited him to play with his jam band. The rest, as they say, is history.

“I get a little misty when I talk about this, but I'm just so thankful to be here, and without Eric's help, I wouldn't be, so that's something that sticks with me every single day,” Meijer said.

View Meijer and Rothstein's full conversation with Inside Edition reporter Leigh Scheps in the video below.

A heart attack brought a patient and his cardiologist to play music together at a small town pub in Vermont. Dr. Eric Rothstein, a cardiologist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, walked into the Skunk Hallow Tavern in Hartland Four Corners during open mic night, not knowing what to expect. It had been decades since he played the drums. His patient Peter Meijer made him come. Sure enough, without any rehearsal or knowing what songs would be performed, he fit in quickly. Inside Edition Digital’s Leigh Scheps has their story.