An ICU nurse on the frontline against COVID-19 has spoken out helping the wife of a 35-year-old coronavirus victim with no underlying health conditions FaceTime with her dead husband.
This comes as healthcare professionals around the world are putting their lives on the line to battle the global pandemic, witnessing heartwrenching situations as they do so.
Michael Kouridakis, who has been an ICU nurse for 25 years, opened up about the incident to Nightline co-anchor Juju Chang, per ABC News. The FaceTime call between the wife and her husband happened just moments after he passed away.
Nurse Michael Kouridakis recalls the heartwrenching moment below:
"I used to joke you could only get PTSD if you have feelings. Even the most hardened practitioner - everybody cries at work. It's just part of it now," Kouridakis said.
"I had a 35-year-old patient die on me the other day with nothing significant in his medical history. This is a horrible, horrible disease," he said. "People die alone now, and that's unusual."
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The nurse explained that prior to contracting COVID-19, the unidentified 35-year-old had been healthy. The man's wife had asked if she could FaceTime him shortly before he passed away, and Kouridakis said "absolutely".
"I straightened up the room and made sure he looked nice for the call. And the monitor started alarming. I looked up and his heart rate was dropping, his blood pressure was dropping and within just a minute or two he was almost gone," he said.
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"I just stopped what I was doing and I went with him and I talked to him. I said that his wife was thinking about him and I'd just spoken to her, you know, and that his family loved him and missed him," Kouridakis said, holding back tears. "I just tried to say the things that I thought I might want to hear if it was me."
He continued, "I just called her and let her know that he passed away. And she still wanted to FaceTime with him."
"Then she handed the phone around and gave it to their son, a 10 or 12-year-old boy. That was hard," Kouridakis added. "He just said, 'Papi, Papi, please don't leave me alone in this world.' You know, that was it."
A nurse is pictured below donning protective equipment to battle COVID-19.
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"[I] hung up the phone and then did what I do, got him ready and then I got two more patients from the ER. The beds don't stay empty for very long with this," Kouridakis said.
The nurse then compared the difficulties that he is experiencing to fighting a war.
"I guess walking into combat, at least you know where the firing is coming from and you can shoot back. We walk into this without any weapons," he explained.
An elderly British couple have beaten coronavirus after being treated side-by-side in intensive care.
Concetta Scolaro, 73, said that she thought she was about to lose her life when breathing difficulties and a high temperature brought her to Barnet Hospital in north London in June.
Nine days later, her 79-year-old husband Domenico arrived at the same hospital by ambulance after also contracting coronavirus.
A hospital spokesperson revealed that the decision was then made to place the couple in side-by-side beds so that they could support each other.
Mrs. Scolaro said: "I thought I was going to die - I honestly thought I'd never see my husband, my children or my grandchildren again."
She added: "When the nurse woke me up she said she had something to tell me about my husband.
"I feared the very worst but instead she told me he had the virus, [and he] had been admitted the previous night but now he was being put in the bed right next to me.
"I cried but actually it was incredibly comforting to be together and just being able to watch him as he slept gave me strength."
The couple's daughter Sabrina said that her mother's temperature soared to 39.5C, and that she was"ashen-faced and had become delirious" before she was diagnosed with coronavirus.
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Upon her admission to hospital, Mrs. Scolaro was placed on a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help her breathe and was moved to ICU so that staff could monitor her condition 24-7.
Sabrina said that prior to his admission to the hospital, she noticed her father "getting very lethargic" and he lost his appetite before tests revealed that he also had coronavirus.
"Suddenly both my parents were in hospital with the virus and I was left to lock their front door behind me and drive back to my own home in tears," she added.
Sixteen days after she was first admitted to hospital, Mrs. Scolaro was discharged on the 8th of July and her husband was discharged the next day.
The London couple has been married since 1963, having first met at an Italian dance club.
Debbie Kirby, an ICU matron at Barnet Hospital, said: "We knew that putting this couple together would mean everything to them. Both of them had such spirit and determination.
"Staff were absolutely thrilled to be able to bring people together when so much of what we have had to do means separating loved ones."
A doting husband has passed away from COVID-19 less than three weeks after visiting his wife's bedside before she also succumbed to the virus.
Sam and JoAnn Reck had been married for 30 years before JoAnn fell ill with the novel coronavirus.
Due to the fact that 86-year-old JoAnn lived in a nursing home, Sam, 90, had been banned from visiting her for months due to the pandemic.
However, after she was transferred to Florida's Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, Sam was adamant he was going to visit his wife - despite doctors warning him that he could also become fatally ill as a result.
Undeterred, Sam donned the protective gear and paid one last visit to JoAnn's bedside.
In the video below, Sam pays one final visit to JoAnn:
He wrote: "Our mother has been suffering from dementia for the past year and was in quarantine for over 4 months."
"She was separated from her family, including her husband. This had a very traumatic effect on her. She recently came down with COVID-19 and passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2020. We all love you, Mom."
Then, tragically, Scott took to Facebook once more to reveal that his step-father had also died of COVID-19, three weeks after his mother.
Writing on Facebook, Scott wrote: "Today we lost Sam to the same affliction as our mother three weeks earlier, Covid-19.
"It felt strange to return to the exact room I last saw my mother, now with Sam going through the same struggle to breathe. He was with us in this room when we all said goodbye to my mom. He was very much a broken man seeing her suffer.
"After Sam tested positive for Covid, I asked him if he regretted his visit to the hospital. Without pause he replied, 'Not one second.' He said no matter what happens, he was very happy he had the opportunity to say goodbye and hold her hand one more time."
Scott then recalled how Sam came into his mother's life following the death of his father. He wrote:
"Thirty years ago when my father passed away, my mother was depressed and not leaving the house. Her Pastor visited and insisted she go to a church social, which she reluctantly agreed to. It was there Sam asked her to dance and they immediately connected.
"Sam brought so many new adventures into her life, including their travels throughout the U.S. playing bluegrass music at festivals.
"In the past year, my mom suffered with dementia and Sam helped her get through her daily struggle. She was moved into a skilled nursing floor. He would drive his scooter every morning and stay with her all day until he kissed her goodnight and went back to his room.
"Thank you Sam, for everything you have done for our family, and for loving my mother.
"We all love you. I know you are now back with my mom playing bluegrass music together."
Scott also created a video tribute to his mother, which can be seen below:
A woman has shared the final words her late husband left for his family after he sadly died to the coronavirus.
Father-of-two Jon Coelho had spent the past month battling the novel coronavirus in a hospital in Danbury, Connecticut. But sadly, the 32-year-old lost the fight on Wednesday, as he died of a cardiac arrest that was brought on by the disease.
On Wednesday, Jon's wife Katie revealed that following her husband's passing, she visited to the hospital in order to gather his belongings. While doing so, the 33-year-old mom opened Jon's phone in an attempt to save as many photo and memories of him and their two children as possible.
But while doing so, Katie was stunned to discover that Jon had left his wife and children a heartfelt goodbye letter.
Katie has since shared Jon's final words to the Facebook page 'Journey for Braedyn' - a page set up to document their son's battle with cerebral palsy
"This morning unexpectedly Jonathan went into cardiac arrest and passed away. He had been doing significantly better the last few days and we were given a very optimistic prognosis.
"The nurse told me she has no idea what happened and why.
"I was able to sit with Jonathan in the ICU after it happened and just sat, cried and told him how much the kids and I loved him.
"When Jonathan’s phone was returned to me, I turned it on and there was a note up written by Jonathan the day before he was intubated."
"I love you guys with all my heart and you’ve given me the best life I could have ever asked for. I am so lucky it makes me so proud to be your husband and the father to Braedyn and penny.
Katie you are the most beautiful caring nurturing person I’ve ever met.....you are truly one of a kind.....make sure you live life with happiness and that same passion that made me fall in love with you.
Seeing you be the best mom to the kids is the greatest thing I’ve ever experienced.
Let Braedyn now he’s my best bud and I’m proud to be his father and for all the amazing things he’s done and continues to do.
Let Penelope know she’s a princess and can have whatever she wants in life.
I’m so lucky...."
Katie ended her post by saying:
"The pain we are feeling is indescribable, our everything was stolen from us. My heart is not even broken it’s shattered. My kids and I will live the rest of our lives without Jonathan. And I don’t know how we’re going to do it."
Jonathan was the "sole provider" for his family, and "worked tirelessly to care for his wife Katie and their two kids, Braedyn and Penelope".
Due to son Braedyn's cerebral palsy diagnosis, the family also battled a huge financial strain - so when Jon was admitted to hospital, a GoFundMe page was set up in order to support the family cover Jonathan's medical bills, as well as Braedyn's for the future.
As of this writing, $562,591 has been raised thanks to kind donations. So if you would like to hear more about this family's story or perhaps donate, please visit their GoFundMe HERE.
And despite the media doing their best to hit home the true impact of the pandemic, the reality can only truly conveyed to us by people who are working on the frontline to help treat affected patients.
One of which is nurse Aleixandrea Macias, a mom-of-four from Brownsville, Texas, who has been working in a makeshift ICU (intensive care unit) for the last 16 days in New York City.
Per the Daily Mail, Macias says she has been treating many young people with no previous medical issues, and she had never taken care of someone before "that is so healthy but at the same time so deathly sick".
In an attempt to communicate the "true" reality of the war against COVID-19, Macias has shared a series of posts on Facebook, including a now-viral post explaining how nobody has left her unit, "except in a body bag".
If anybody is still dubious about the devastating impact this illness is having, I have no doubt Aleixandrea's powerful post will change your mind.
Aleixandrea's post can be read below. Some people may find some details distressing:
"I haven't posted a true update in days because I could not find anything positive to say.
"I tried since Thursday to change my perspective and be a ray of light in this dark time, but I just keep being beat down. I have never seen anything like this before, never taken care of someone that is so healthy but at the same time so deathly sick.
"I've been working in a makeshift ICU for days now because there were no other nurses to staff the area. There are not enough staff even though we get new people daily, not enough experienced staff (because who on earth can be experienced for this level of sick?!), not enough supplies. I can't count the times I have heard "well we could try and do this but we don't have this". I'm not an ICU nurse at all, but neither is hardly anyone else working these units now.
"I've told Julio Macias 2 days in a row that I want to come home. But he talks me back off the edge each time because he knows how much I would regret leaving because at this point anybody at all helps. So I'm still here. Day 11 is done."
Aleixandrea went on to reveal that the "worst" part about working on the wards is listening to the patient's phones ringing with calls from loved ones. She said:
"Of course we can't share patient info, but being in an ICU setting I am keeping my same patients day after day until they die. "
"I've struggled to find my purpose being here, but strangely enough Julio knew why before I ever did. I have been translating Spanish for days for these people, in my own broken Spanish because anything is better than them understanding nothing.
"I've seen patients arrive on our unit not yet sedated or vented but in extreme respiratory distress and beyond frightened. I have explained what COVID is doing to their body, what the risks are of being intubated vs not, and I have listened as these people have called their family members for the very last time prior to being intubated.
"If I can leave here with anything at all, I can know that I helped give them those last moments with their family.
"After they are sedated, their personal belongings are still there. Their phones still ring. That's the worst is listening to the phones ring knowing someone is calling and praying they will answer just one more time.
"These people are not old. They are young. Many with no medical problems. Strong people, physically fit. One who even worked 5 jobs at a time until Covid ravaged his body.
"This virus kills people. They all die at some point, it's just been a game of seeing how long we can keep them half alive. I feel like our efforts are futile, but I still try so hard and get so upset because I know that if it were Julio or anyone in my family laying there I would want the same done.
"When their bodies finally give up fighting, we place them in a body bag. I've seen hundreds of people die as a nurse, but they are usually surrounded with loved ones or we give family time to see them to say their goodbyes. Not with COVID. There is no closure for anyone in this. I can't explain to you how bad this hurts, how real this is, and how afraid I am knowing that it could get like this in my own hometowns.
Finally, Aleixandrea pleaded with anybody reading her post to take the crisis seriously, and revealed how she believes many medical workers will suffer from "some form of PTSD" when all of this is over. She wrote:
"I can't make you guys do anything, but I am literally begging you to listen to us healthcare workers and take this seriously. My heart hurts so bad tonight for these families who have lost people entirely too soon, for those who are sick and absolutely terrified, and for all of us who will surely have some form of PTSD after this is over."
Aleixandrea's post has since been shared more than 79,000 times on the social media platform, and received many comments from well-wishers thanking her for her "ultimate sacrifice":
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In a follow-up Facebook post yesterday, Macias revealed that her 16 days in New York City had come to end and that she will now be quarantining in her campervan for two weeks. She also said how she hopes her story had proven to people just how serious the crisis is.
"I did it! I'm coming home! I originally signed up to work 14-21 days in NYC, my personal goal was 21 days. This was harder than I ever imagined it could be and I feel lucky to have made it to 16. I am thankful, grateful, sad, anxious, happy, all at once today. I'm looking forward to my days of rest to reflect and catch up on reading all the beautiful messages I have received.
"What's my plan?
"I'll be quarantining in my camper for 14 days. My boys do not know that I am coming home, and our plan is to keep it that way so they can be safe from me. I have no symptoms at all after 16 days of heavy exposure, and I pray that it remains that way. The agency is expecting work needs in NY until June. They have asked who all would be willing to return after some much needed rest. I have told them I will return if the need is still there as expected. But we will cross that bridge when we get to it!
"I have truly been going nonstop for days. I talk with Julio and the boys for about 10 minutes each night. And I update FB when I am on the bus. FB updates have been easier/quicker than calling my mom, dad, friends, etc. Individually. I know everyone knows now that a post of mine went viral. That was never the intent, I posted mainly because I knew I had prayer warriors who would go to work on my behalf. Most of you knew before I ever did. Between work and sleep, I wasn't able to check my phone and when I did I was shocked to see what had happened in a day. [...]
"The past few days have been a crazy whirlwind, but I am thankful my story was shared because I know it has helped people to realize how serious this is. And if I can only have one 'win' in this fight, I hope my story influenced others to stay home to stay safe."
VT would like to send our thanks and best wishes to Aleixandrea and all the other medical staff and key workers around the world who are helping keep us safe and healthy during these trying times.
With 1,441,128 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus globally, the world is now at war with this deadly disease.
Despite the fact many of us being instructed to stay at home, there are still the incredible key workers and frontline medical staff putting themselves at risk in an effort to battle against COVID-19. As a result, these incredible individuals are forced to make sacrifices many of us would find unimaginable.
Related - This nurse recently recalled the moment he helped a family Facetime with their deceased father:
One emergency room nurse named Devon Nicole Oechsle from Texas recently shared her story to Facebook, revealing that she and her husband had been forced to make the heartbreaking decision to send their three-year-old daughter to live with a family friend in order to protect her.
With Devon being a nurse and her husband Jason being a firefighter/medic, they are constantly at risk of catching COVID-19, and the parents were forced to make a decision no parents would want to make.
Writing on Facebook, Devon said:
"This is my current situation.
"Jason and I just had to have a very hard conversation to send Ellie away tonight for maybe a month... to stay with my amazing friend Anita, who did not even hesitate to keep her for us. And Ellie loves 'Miss Nita.'
"This is the face of someone who feels punished for trying to be the 'good guy.' My job as an ER nurse is just that, my job, I don't ever feel like it's anything crazy or special or deserving of accolades. Jason feels the same way as a [firefighter]/medic.
"But, our jobs are important right now and unlike many, we are still required to work. And that work carries a high risk of being infected, or spreading this damn virus. I have already been in contact with +covid patients, and the last thing we want to do is have Ellie surrounded by the potential virus we could carry home.
"So, I feel punished for having to be the 'good guy.' I have to send my 3.5yo child away. I won't get to visit her. I won't get to hug her. I won't get to tuck her in at night. We have FaceTime, and that's it. For up to a month, or who knows how long...and many of my coworkers have had to do the same.
"So, if you've read this far and you are having to stay home with your kids all day, consider it a blessing and absolutely NOTHING less."
Since posting the emotional status on March 31, Devon's post went viral, amassing over 122K comments and over 152K shares. However, several trolls in the comments section slammed the doting mother's difficult decision, leading to Devon shutting them down, writing:
"Edit: since this has gone viral somehow, let me just set one thing straight. Don't you DARE come at me for 'getting rid of my child' and saying 'you made a choice, there were other options' and 'no job is worth sending my kid to a stranger to raise'
"1. Sure would be a crappy day for you if all the staff in your ER weren't there because they all quit their jobs to stay at home with their kids
"2. Tell me what other options I had since you are so in my shoes?
"3. She is 15min down the road, staying with someone she loves and who loves her. We didn't just wake up and decide to leave her with a stranger!
"All the keyboard warriors can just sit down."
Fortunately, many people totally empathized with the family, and well-wishers left comments of support for Devon and Jason:
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[[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook]]
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook]]
VT would like to take this time to thank both Devon and Jason for their amazing work, and remind our readers to heed her words and stay at home.
We are urging all of our readers to adhere to the advice from their respective governments and medical bodies, and practice social distancing and self-isolation where required. Together, we will beat this...
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