The nursing staff and healthcare team on 4 Lasko cared for a patient with an extended length of stay that required a lot of care and support. B was 26 years old with special needs and was admitted with COVID and respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation, resulting in a tracheostomy. While caring for B, the nursing staff, including the RNs, nursing assistants, and providers worked diligently with the multidisciplinary teams to keep B motivated and moving forward in his recovery process.

Due to various circumstances, B did not qualify for admission to a skilled nursing facility; causing much stress and worry to his family and those caring for B. Having B return home, potentially with a trach and feeding tube, seemed unlikely for some time.

The staff went above and beyond to keep B’s spirits up by taking him on frequent trips around the hospital in his wheelchair, trick-or-treating on different floors, and dressing him in his favorite character costumes that were hand-made by the nursing staff. There were definitely some tough days and the staff never gave up, providing unwavering support.

B’s mom traveled a long distance to visit, depending on others for rides to the hospital. Our case management department and social workers arranged for Lyft to provide her transportation three times a week to and from the hospital. The staff was able to teach her how to properly care for her son and he was discharged after many months to home.