We're all committed to keeping our frontline safe, by keeping them healthy.
So, let's do it! Let's show all the Healthcare teams, EMS, Police, Rescue Workers, Fire Fighters, and EVERYONE on the frontline what our Big Houston Hearts look like!
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Kristi Griffin, Car Caroling Queen
When the pandemic was announced, I was lost, but then my heart began to feel an overwhelming sense of gratefulness for the people who didn’t have a choice to stay home — the healthcare heroes. Whether they had the proper safety equipment or not, these people had to go to work to fight this pandemic.
One day, while scrolling through Facebook, I came across a video showing a small group of people parked in a hospital parking lot and singing “Way Maker” by Leland at the top of their lungs. Doctors and nurses walked out of the hospital with faces full of joy! It brought me to tears.
I attempted to continue working that day, but something inside of me — I say it was the Holy Spirit — continued to guide me to put my work down and begin organizing this event. I couldn’t help but follow His guidance.
On the day of the event, CHI St. Luke’s Head Chaplin said a prayer over the hospital, the staff, and the event. Then, at 7 pm, the music began. Nurses, doctors, CNAs, administrators, and hospital staff all began coming out to the parking lot. Seeing over 100 families hanging out of their cars and truck beds, singing, and holding up signs of encouragement seemed to overwhelm some of them. Those of us closest to the door had to coax them to come down the parking lot aisles where so many people from our community were waiting to shower love on them.
Others walked down the aisles, alone or with coworkers, soaking in the love. Most of the staff had their face masks on, but we could still see their beaming smiles and tears of joy.
When we allow God to use us for His work, our joy and love for those we want to shower love on, work for, and give to, are magnified. It’s an amazing experience for all who agree to take part in His work. To the staff of CHI St. Luke’s Health–The Woodlands Hospital, we see you, and we love you. Thank you for all that you do during this time and always. Your work does not go unnoticed.
Originally from Vietnam, Mary Tran has been a nurse for over 20 years and has worked for CHI St. Luke’s Health–Sugar Land Hospital for 12 years. Mary chose to work in the ICU because she felt passionate about taking care of critical patients. At the beginning of March 2020, Mary received the very first hospitalized COVID-19 patient from Fort Bend County and the Greater Houston area. As Mary recalls it, the patient was really sick and had trouble breathing. When the patient would lift a hand or say one word, his oxygen saturation would drop. The patient knew he was in trouble, and Mary could read his anxiety on his face.
While Mary treated the patient, his wife had to self-quarantine for 14 days. Due to the patient’s shortness of breath, he couldn’t talk to his wife, which made him miss her even more. Day after day, Mary worked with the patient on breathing exercises to increase his oxygen saturation. With incremental improvement, he was finally able to use FaceTime to speak with his wife. Once cleared by the department of public health, Mary helped facilitate meetings where the couple would see one another through the window. She also helped them talk via cell phone, providing relief for both the patient and his spouse. Seeing the couple reconnect after such a challenging start brought joy to the entire ICU Team.
Despite the danger she faced daily, Mary was comfortable in caring for the patient because they worked together to follow safety guidelines. The patient was compliant and learned well from her teachings. When his saturation levels dropped, she would point at the monitors from outside the room, and he would begin doing his exercises. Once the patient was discharged in good health, she felt great. He referred to her as one of “Sugar Land’s angels” and said he would remember the entire hospital. Mary will always remember him as her patient zero. In her words, “He was a success, and I enjoyed my time with him and his wife.” She saw the need for the two of them to be together, and she ensured that need was met.
These stories remind us of how amazing nurses are, as they maintain compassion despite facing the danger of COVID-19. We are blessed to work with so many amazing heroes at CHI St. Luke’s Health–Sugar Land Hospital.
– Steven Foster, CEO of CHI St. Luke’s Health–Sugar Land Hospital
As the Battalion Chief of the Sugar Land Fire Department, Warren Phillips serves his community tirelessly. Before joining the Fire Department in 2013, Warren served our country in the U.S. Army. In 2018, he earned the prestigious award of being the City of Sugar Land Employee of the Year for his service as a firefighter, paramedic, and member of the West Fort Bend Regional SWAT team. Beyond that, Warren teaches classes that cover topics like casualty care and wound first aid to the city of Sugar Land, Rice University, the Fulsher Police Department, and more.
Since the pandemic, Warren has worked to ensure his crews, patients, and receiving emergency department personnel are supported at the highest level while conducting pandemic response efforts. According to one of his colleagues, he has a “ harrowing dedication to improve patient outcomes across the entire healthcare continuum. In addition to his extensive career as a paramedic, his relentless pursuit of collaboration amongst EMS providers, emergency departments, physicians, hospital systems, and the community-at-large is unmatched.”
The CLARC (Consolidated Low Acuity Respiratory Clinic) in Creekside was developed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The clinic centralized COVID-19 testing for Baylor ST. Luke’ s Medical Group patients and CHI employees in North Houston.
This week, our Featured Heart goes to the staff that volunteered to work in the CLARC clinic, demonstrating excellence, courage, and versatility. They immediately heard the call to form a team to screen hundreds of patients for COVID-19.
