I would like to nominate SJWH L&D and multidisciplinary team with SJH CCT3 unit for a combined DAISY Team Award. Specific SJWH team members involved with this case were RN Becky Allen, RN charge Brooke Waters, myself RN APCL Rachel Hinkle, Educator Alena Laseter, Physicians Dr. Karolina Borodo and Dr. Carmen Peden, CST Cindy Cissell, Anesthesia team members Dr. David Vann, CRNA Kelly Vann, and AA Kristen Siefring, Pharmacy Martha Stojanov, Manager Shawn Edwards and AOD Natalie Lima. Critical Care Tower 3 were RN Hope Manis and RT Stephanie Alvarado, along with many other unmentioned names.

The patient was admitted with an uncomplicated history of labor, and pregnant with her second child. She and her family had just moved to the Tampa area from out of state the week before. Mid-morning, within the time span of one hour, her temperature rapidly spiked and she decompensated very quickly. Her nurse, Becky Allen, recognized her symptoms. The MD (Dr. Borodo) was notified, additional team members came quickly to the room (Charge Nurse Brooke Waters and Rachel Hinkle APCL), the PowerPlan was initiated and interventions immediately started. An RRT was called, Pharmacy responded, along with anesthesia (Kelly Vann CRNA) and many other personnel who were integral in assisting with parts of her care. Shout out to Martha Stojanov in pharmacy, who helped review, place orders, and obtain antibiotics appropriate for the patient right at her bedside, which was a tremendous help to Dr. Borodo, ensuring she received quick intervention. RT came to assist with EKG and ABGs. A nurse from 5T came and applied telemetry. Alena Laseter assisted with the cooling blanket. Internal Medicine Physician from SJH main came over to assess the patient at the bedside. Maternal Fetal Medicine was in attendance at the bedside as well. Outside of the room coordinating transfer to the ICU, accruing supplies, sending specimens to the lab, and bringing medications to the bedside was AOD Natali Lima and Manager Shawn Edwards, both integral in obtaining seamless care for her. She was then transferred to ICU CCT3 for a higher level of care. The ICU team met us and the patient at her labor room for transfer. The NEW bridge between SJWH and SJH main was utilized for transfer, getting her exactly where she needed to be extremely quickly, without having to wait for an ambulance to arrive.

She was settled in her ICU room and OR was booked for a cesarean delivery to expedite delivery due to her deteriorating condition. She was transferred to OR with our team from Labor and Delivery (Dr. David Vann, Kristen Siefring AA, Cindy Cissell CST, Becky Allen RN, and Rachel Hinkle APCL). In the OR, she complained of feeling pressure and was examined by her OB (Dr. Peden who came to assist Dr. Borodo) and found to be completely dilated and ready to deliver her baby. We quickly converted to vaginal delivery, she was able to push her healthy baby out. Becky was able to assess her newborn baby with mom recovering in the ICU, allowing her to briefly bond with her new son and preserving the Golden Hour, before being transferred back to SJWH well newborn nursery for blood cultures and observation. Her husband was able to remain in attendance with his wife and newborn son the entire time. The newborn was able to visit her daily in the ICU while she recovered. She remained in the ICU.

The delivery team visited her daily to see her recovery progress and was able to see her the day of discharge as she and her new baby were sent home healthy! Through hard work, prayers, and dedication to Trust, Dignity, Respect, Responsibility, and Excellence, I wholeheartedly submit this team nomination.

***

Pregnant Mother Survives COVID-19 After Three Months in the Hospital

Where is my baby? The question swirled around her mind when she woke up from a coma at St. Joseph's Hospital. Nearly two months earlier, the patient went to the St. Joseph's Hospital emergency room suffering from a cough and flu-like symptoms. Test results came back positive for COVID-19 and pneumonia—a frightening, dual diagnosis. She was pregnant. As the patient processed the news of her diagnosis, a nurse helped her into a wheelchair, hooked her up to an oxygen machine, and admitted her to St. Joseph’s Hospital for immediate treatment. It all happened so quickly, the patient later recalled, that she didn’t realize the seriousness of her situation. "I thought I'd just be there for 14 days and go back home," she said. Instead, she would receive care at St. Joseph's Hospital for months.

During much of her stay, she doesn't remember a thing. But for the frontline workers who cared for her, her case is one they’ll never forget. "We were dealing with a lot of death during that time," said Jasmine Nicholas, a nurse manager on the pulmonary unit where the patient spent a few weeks. "Everyone knew about her case, about her baby. She was holding on. As a hospital, we all had hope for her." Intensive Care Soon after the patient was admitted to the hospital, it was clear she would need intensive medical attention to keep her and her baby alive. “There were a lot of unknowns about her case at the time,” said Kareena Williamson, a nurse who cared for the patient. When would the patient need a ventilator? How was her baby doing? And would they need to deliver the baby early to save both of their lives? “Once we learned the baby was OK, we decided to keep her pregnant for as long as we could,” Kareena said. “At least as long as she and her baby were doing OK.” “Even though we couldn’t communicate, I felt such a connection to her,” said Jayce Elliott, a nurse on the MICU. “We were all so invested in her case.” A Ray of Sunshine For the next few weeks, the MICU team monitored the patient closely, while a labor and delivery nurse checked on her baby using a fetal monitor. The team searched for every opportunity to help. “We were trying to do everything we could for her without harming her baby,” Kareena said. For Tamie Saglimbeni, nurse manager of the MICU, her case helped team members find strength during the terrible surge of COVID cases caused by the delta variant. “She was a ray of sunshine we needed in a very dark time,” she said.

As her condition improved, she was transferred where her child was, “Her recovery accelerated after birth. She gradually regained consciousness. Shortly after A regained consciousness, she began to wonder about her baby. Where was the baby? How was the baby? With the help of her mother, who spent long hours at her bedside, nurses assured her that her baby was doing well., As she continued to improve, she was transferred and nurses brought the baby to visit. “That was my first time seeing her,” She said. “I was just so happy, so relieved.” 

She regularly got visits from the baby which lifted her spirits and motivation. She recalls how nurses like Jayce from different units would visit on their days off just to see how she was doing. “So many good nurses took care of the baby and me,” she said. “They all really love what they do.” The day she was discharged from St. Joseph’s Hospital, team members lined up in the hallways to cheer and wave goodbye in a celebratory “clap out.” Team members remember the moment as one of immense joy and relief as they watched the patient who almost didn’t make it leave St. Joseph’s Hospital on a bright and sunny afternoon. “It was amazing to see the whole hospital there for the clap out,” Tamie said. “Her eyes were so bright. It gave us goosebumps.” Heading into the new year, she’s turning the page to a brighter future, thankful to have her family home and healthy under one roof. “It feels great to have my family back together,” she said. “I feel like I'm whole again. I’m complete.”