Melissa Donnelly cared for my family member. We were lucky enough to have her on day 3 of my family member being in the hospital with Covid. As an only child with my family member being my only family other than my husband and kids, I was panicked. It had been 2 days of not being able to reach family member or know what was going on, and I was a wreck. I didn't even have the phone number on the floor or unit at that time. Somehow, I finally got through to Melissa, who spent several minutes with me, also got me in touch with the Nurse Practitioner, and even offered to FaceTime me with my family member. She promised she'd call back with an update later that day, and she followed through to her word - twice. She even provided me with her direct phone number, so I didn't have to continue to go through the switchboard. My family member and I were both so impressed by her level of care not only to her patient but to her patient's family. I requested her when she would be on 2 days later, and we were lucky enough to receive her care again.
Melissa took several minutes later that evening to talk to me. She had even promised my family member a beach trip so she would have something to look forward to. I told her I was interjecting myself, and my daughter on that trip - my family member was SO excited. She saw some of me in Melissa, and during such a scary time when I couldn't be there to hold her hand, Melissa was there. Mom told me she had thank you notes to write when she got home - I know Melissa was on the top of that list.
Melissa had explained to me that evening that she was not previously the "holding hands" type of nurse, but after seeing what Covid can do, and how it separated families, she was forever changed. As a mom of 3 young children, I understood that, and I vowed to make changes myself when my Mom came home. Melissa further explained that this "turning a corner" thing that was so frustrating, so back and forth, would be more like a curve than a corner, ever so gradual that I would not see it happening until several weeks later looking back. I joked with her that she was like Denis Phillips, the meteorologist for hurricanes, as his words calmed me, and so did hers. Little did I know the hurricane that was in my path.
Thanksgiving morning I texted family member back and forth a bit, then didn't hear back, which wasn't entirely unusual at this point. An hour later, I got a phone call from Melissa that I never wanted to get. My family member's oxygen numbers were dropping and wasn't responding to CPAP - they would need to intubate almost immediately. I asked them to hold off if possible so I could get someone there to watch my kids and come see my family member - they were only going to let me see family member through a window anyway. Melissa knew our bond and was instrumental in getting approval to allow me into the room, but it was going to be "too late" as they needed to intubate before I could get there. It's important to note that Melissa was NOT my family member's nurse that day but cared enough and understood my position. I started to cry, and I said I couldn't have my family member be alone. I heard Melissa tell someone she was gowning up and going in, not as a nurse, but as family. I will never, ever, forget that moment, or how she made me feel. She reminded me I still had her direct number, and she wouldn't be able to answer inside confinement but to let her know when I was pulling up so she could come and get me. The hospital main entrance was locked when Melissa met me at the door, and I couldn't get in. She instructed me how to get through the ER and met me there. She held my hand the entire walk/elevator ride upstairs. I remember her telling me my family member did well, and she held her hand the whole time. The moments after are a blur. I was able to spend some time with my mother, and I am grateful forever to Melissa for that. My beautiful, brave, strong mother passed away 48 hours later.
While all the nurses were wonderful, I felt a bond with Melissa that I can't explain. I can never repay her kindness and strength. Nurses are being asked to go to war every day - while they knew what they signed up for when they chose this career path, I don't know that anyone could have predicted this in our lifetime.
Thank you for reading, and for your time. In some ways, this email was part of my own healing. You see the patients, you hold the hands, but you do not hear the stories behind them. I can never repay Melissa, but I can tell a story in which she played a large part. I can pay it forward, and I can be a voice out here to those that think this isn't real as I have seen first-hand the Category 5 Hurricane named Covid-19.