COVID has hit us with this state of uncertainty, many caregivers/family members that may have been present in the past have not been allowed to visit. We have used technology to take the place of human touch and ease the anxiety of patients not having their loved ones near. We have taken on more responsibility at the bedside. If we are not careful, we can become numb to feel. If we are so focused on completing a task, we may forget about the human empathy side. Kevin has not forgotten. If anyone knows Kevin, he is a 6' 6" teddy bear. When you first meet him, you would be taken aback because he asks questions that you are not prepared for, and requires you to put some thought into your response. What makes him unique is that he can relate to patients whether they are 18 years old or 90 years old.
There was a patient who was not intubated but required high flow vapotherm and nitric oxide. When this patient would take off his mask, his oxygen levels would drop. Each day, he grew weaker and weaker to the point that he could not turn himself without being short of breath. He could not hold a cup and drink without being short of breath. And as the days grew into weeks, his prognosis did not improve. With his symptoms progressing, the decision was made to bring the patient's wife in for a face-to-face meeting. The wife was not allowed to go into the room, but from the outside of the room through the glass door with a zoom camera, he told his wife not to worry and that he would be okay. He started to make funeral arrangements and get personal business in order as much as he could, being short of breath. Kevin listened as he went in and out of the room, completing the scheduled task, and heard the patient ask his wife what the weather felt like outside. The patient stated, "what I would not give to feel the air on my face". Kevin quickly went out of the room and spoke to the respiratory therapist and the doctor to see if it would be physically possible to take the patient outside. When it was decided that this would be possible, Kevin first went down to plot the route to the healing garden but realized that due to it being close to lunchtime, there was still a lot of traffic. It was important to minimize the risk of exposure to staff and visitors. Noticing that Wolfe Park was empty, Kevin formulated a plan for transport. Kevin worked with respiratory to get portable tanks and found a wheel chart. Kevin placed the patient into the wheelchair carefully to take him on what would be his last journey that he would remember. Once outside, he watched as Kevin and the respiratory therapist played on the playground and enjoyed small talk with his wife. Kevin said the patient looked at him and said, "This is beautiful". The patient had been in the hospital for 35 days, and for just a few minutes, Kevin was able to give him a piece of feeling alive again.
Once returning to the room, sad to say, the patient expired within 30 minutes. The wife was eternally grateful for what Kevin and the respiratory therapist had done. Kevin has shown what makes humanity special. Even if it was just for a moment, Kevin was able to play a crucial part in allowing this patient to feel somewhat normal, even if just was for a moment.
Kevin exemplified compassion that we all should be proud of and want to model.