In the midst of this pandemic, I feel the need to recognize the healthcare heroes who are at the forefront of fighting the virus. For me and my family, Gabby is that one hero who comes to mind. I really wanted to recognize her for all that she has done so when I came across The DAISY Award on the hospital's website it only made sense to nominate her. Here is my dad's story:
My father, who passed away a few weeks back from coronavirus complications, was a great man and a wonderful father. His death has been extraordinarily difficult for our family. In 2019 he was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, which he had been battling with chemo and radiation all winter. Near the end of his treatment was when things like "coronavirus" and "COVID-19" started popping up all over the news. I remember the first time I had really heard about the coronavirus; it was the first week of March. I immediately thought of Dad. I was scared for him as I knew he was immunocompromised and already had weak lungs. A few days later he was in the hospital as one of the first patients to be tested for the virus at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. The doctors and nurses had very little information about this virus at the time as it was brand new to Ohio and the hospital. Our family was anxious and scared. Dad had already been through so much and now this!? My mom, siblings, and I were discouraged from visiting dad for obvious reasons, so he was at the hospital all alone for days. He and my mom would talk on the phone daily. She would pretend that she was doing fine but her heart was breaking. During his call, they would talk about how the doctors and nurses wore crazy outfits and that they would only come in the room when it was necessary. We all hated the thought of him being alone but understood why contact with him had to be limited.
One day, when I was visiting with my mom, Dad called. He seemed different that day. His spirits were higher, he was more talkative and just seemed more like himself. My mom asked why he was so cheerful but he couldn't pinpoint the reason. Well, a little while after we had finished the phone call he called again. He had called us to tell us "I think I know why I'm happier today. I've had real human interaction!" He then proceeded to tell us about his nurse, Gabby.
All of his nurses throughout his fight with cancer and coronavirus have been nothing less than wonderful, Gabby, however, was extraordinary. I am sure she was just as scared and nervous about this virus as Dad was, but she never let Dad see her fear nor did she let that change the way she cared for him. He told us about how when she would come in she wouldn't just give him medicine and take his temperature like everyone else, he said that she would actually sit down and talk to him. Dad told us that at one point she had him laughing so hard that it actually hurt. I remember watching my mom's eyes fill with tears when she heard this. It hurt her so bad not to be with him and for a nurse to be going out of her way to make sure that he wasn't being isolated and getting down in the dumps meant so much to us. She gave us a call later that afternoon just to courteously give us an update on Dad and ask how we were. My mom and I told her that Dad had mentioned how much he appreciated the time she had spent with him and she replied, "it's important that he knows that I care about him. I need him to know that he doesn't have to battle anything alone, I am here for him." The tears were back, this time I had them, too. We were so grateful that there was someone who was emotionally and mentally caring for Dad just as much as they were medically caring for him. He was fortunate enough to have had her as his nurse for a few more days before he got his results back. When he finally got his results back he told us that Gabby came in to tell him he didn't have the virus and gave him a big long hug. He told us that hug made him cry tears of joy. Although my family and I didn't get to actually see the way that Gabby cared for our dad, we know that she was special from the stories Dad told us and the way she interacted with us over the phone.
Fast forward a few weeks later, dad fell ill again. This time he tested positive for coronavirus. The rush of fear and anxiety overwhelmed us all again. We once again, we were not permitted to see him in the hospital as it was unsafe for us to be there. His passing was a little unexpected and flooded my family and me with grief. We didn't get to say our proper goodbyes to him. A few hours after we received the news of his death my mom looked to me and said, "I just hope that he was surrounded by nurses and doctors like Gabby." That statement has really stuck with me for the last few weeks. I feel that Gabby should be acknowledged for the exceptional care she provided to my father and the impact she left on me and my family. We won't ever forget her!