Currently, there is a patient in our unit whose husband had passed away earlier this year in April. Not sure if it was COVID related death or not but the funeral services were last Monday.
Nurse Robyn Stillian came in on her day off unpaid. Robyn stayed a few hours and sat with Mrs. V providing companionship and assisting her in FaceTiming with family so she could watch her husband's funeral services while in the hospital. Despite the patient's positive COVID diagnosis and serious respiratory compromise, Robyn did this on her own accord, on her day off, with nothing to gain but the knowledge that someone was there to help Mrs. V have the best experience possible despite the overwhelming sadness of the situation.
It is quite difficult to imagine having to watch your spouse's funeral services via some app on some device, unable to be there in person even though you may have spent the majority of your entire lives together. This is truly an act of humankindness. It is without a doubt one of the most spiritual, inspirational, and heartfelt that I have experienced in my career as a nurse.