Sometimes the best medicine is compassion
Paul and Karen Martin were halfway to being vaccinated when they both contracted COVID-19 in March of this year. Unfortunately, their first dose of vaccine was not enough to stop the virus from causing breathing trouble and sending them both to the hospital, one day apart.
They were understandably concerned for one another, and they asked their physicians and team members at Riverside Regional Medical Center for information. Recognizing the stress and working to alleviate the worry, their care teams arranged for Karen to visit Paul in his room daily throughout the remainder of their one-week hospital stay.
“When we first went into Riverside, we worried that we were both dying and might never see each other again,” Paul said. “That is why those hours together meant so much to both of us.”
The Martins have been married for 44 years. Paul was in the Army for over 20 years of that time. Since retiring, the few days that COVID kept them separated was their longest time apart. The reunion arranged by RRMC team members was met – first with tears – and then with a joyous lunch together, which they spent holding hands.
“Everyone taking care of us were busy, but they saw a chance to make our experience better,” Paul explains. “It takes a special kind of team to understand what their patients really need.”
Just a few weeks later, Paul found himself back in the hospital – this time by himself. Karen was still in recovery herself and was unable to visit. Many of the staff, including a nursing supervisor who had visited Paul and Karen during their initial hospital stay, remembered Paul and came to see him each day. She would help explain his care and what to expect.
“I knew that everyone on the unit was rooting for me, which meant a lot,” says Paul. “There were harrowing times, but they were able to provide what I needed with each caring interaction.”
In turn, Paul wanted to be the best patient possible. He recognized that the team at Riverside had been providing care to COVID patients for more than a year and he knew how exhausting that must be, yet he felt only care and compassion from everyone he encountered.
Several months out of the hospital and into his recovery, Paul is grateful to be gaining strength. He and Karen have been helped along by the support of their five children, three of whom live in the area.
Paul ran into the nurse supervisor from RRMC a few weeks ago while attending his grandson’s little league game. She recognized him and they shared some happy tears and a hug.
“She told me I was taller than she realized,” laughed Paul. “I guess it was hard to tell when I was lying in a hospital bed.”
Paul remains an advocate for vaccination. While not fully vaccinated when he got sick, he believes it was a big part of his survival and recovery. The humanity and compassion that was shown made all the difference.
“We thank God that if we had to get this dreaded disease that he gave us the men and woman of Riverside to lift us up and make us whole,” Paul added.
