July 2022
Kelly
Sarwinski
,
BSN, RN
ICU
Integris Grove Hospital
Grove
,
OK
United States
She has the wisdom of decades of nursing. But she brings common sense and the courage to speak up in the face of policies that run counter to conventional practice.
My wife R was admitted to Integris ICU with COVID pneumonia. As in many cases she was on a roller coaster doing a little better one day than slipping back the next. When she was admitted she could barely whisper a single sentence. After seven days of this, her condition had worsened and it appeared that she might have to be ventilated. The hospital had a policy that a family member could come in and spend a few hours with the patient before the ventilation and Kelly informed me of this policy and called me. When I got there Kelly suggested that R might do better if I lay next to her in bed. So I did this. I lay beside her all night. All of R's vitals began improving within the first hour and they continued to improve for the next 48 hours--to such a degree that the ventilator was removed from the room and she seemed to be headed for a full recovery. During this period Kelly went to bat for me/us to stay together. Some individuals in the hospital did not support her decision for multiple reasons but she stood firm.
After 48 hours it seemed like R was going to be fine and everyone suggested that I could go home and get some rest. I was allowed to come back and visit R during the next four days for up to an hour. Unfortunately, R began moving into delirium and ICU psychosis with panic attacks, and her vitals were worsening. On the 14th day it appeared once again that she might have to be ventilated and a nurse called me again to come and stay with her. I did but during the next 12-hour period she experienced four panic attacks each one worse than the next. After the 4th one, I agreed with her doctor that it was best to ventilate her and move her to a larger hospital where she could get support for several needs that she presented.
She transferred to Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City where her ICU doctor allowed me to stay with her. She remained on the ventilator for six days. As R's journey turned out she was hospitalized a total of 47 days and I was able to be with her (overnights and almost 24/7) for 35 of it. There are multiple things we believe led to her recovery but we are convinced that my personal presence with her made a major difference. And it started because Kelly fought for us to be together.
Kelly not only brings the absolute best of humanity to her work--she is kind beyond what anyone could ask for. She has the wisdom of decades of nursing. But she brings common sense and the courage to speak up in the face of policies that run counter to conventional practice. Medical care is a science where protocols are important. We understand this. But it is also an art where the particulars of each situation have to be measured. Kelly saw the big picture; she saw the context of our situation and she interceded for us when others wanted to simply follow CDC guidelines regardless of outcomes.
R is alive today we believe because Kelly was there. We owe our lives to her and will be eternally thankful that she was there when we desperately needed someone with her compassion courage and resolve to do the right thing.
After 48 hours it seemed like R was going to be fine and everyone suggested that I could go home and get some rest. I was allowed to come back and visit R during the next four days for up to an hour. Unfortunately, R began moving into delirium and ICU psychosis with panic attacks, and her vitals were worsening. On the 14th day it appeared once again that she might have to be ventilated and a nurse called me again to come and stay with her. I did but during the next 12-hour period she experienced four panic attacks each one worse than the next. After the 4th one, I agreed with her doctor that it was best to ventilate her and move her to a larger hospital where she could get support for several needs that she presented.
She transferred to Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City where her ICU doctor allowed me to stay with her. She remained on the ventilator for six days. As R's journey turned out she was hospitalized a total of 47 days and I was able to be with her (overnights and almost 24/7) for 35 of it. There are multiple things we believe led to her recovery but we are convinced that my personal presence with her made a major difference. And it started because Kelly fought for us to be together.
Kelly not only brings the absolute best of humanity to her work--she is kind beyond what anyone could ask for. She has the wisdom of decades of nursing. But she brings common sense and the courage to speak up in the face of policies that run counter to conventional practice. Medical care is a science where protocols are important. We understand this. But it is also an art where the particulars of each situation have to be measured. Kelly saw the big picture; she saw the context of our situation and she interceded for us when others wanted to simply follow CDC guidelines regardless of outcomes.
R is alive today we believe because Kelly was there. We owe our lives to her and will be eternally thankful that she was there when we desperately needed someone with her compassion courage and resolve to do the right thing.