When she started cleaning the windows on her family farm while preparing for company one autumn morning, Karen Sawatzky didn’t expect to be in the ICU within a matter of hours depending on doctors, nurses and medical treatments to help her take each breath.
Diagnosed with a severe case of COVID-19, Karen was admitted to SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, where she was placed in isolation for the safety of caregivers and visitors. At the time, she was not able to see her family.
“You’re so lonely, and the only people you have are the nurses,” Karen said.
Karen lives about an hour and a half from the hospital, but her husband, Jack, came to sit outside her window every day. One of the nurses drew a heart and taped it in the window of her hospital room to signal where loved ones could find her.
Karen and her team of nurses got to know each other, prayed together and developed a bond that none of them will ever forget.
Over the coming days, Karen’s condition worsened.
“I got to a low point where I just thought, ‘well, I’m giving up, I’m going to go to heaven,” Karen said. “I have my relationship with Christ, and I’m done – I’m just so tired.”
Shortly after, alarms went off alerting staff that Karen was in distress, and they rushed to her aid in response, addressing the immediate medical concerns at hand. However, these nurses had gotten to know Karen, her unwavering faith and the love of her family, and they knew how much she had to live for. One nurse looked at Karen squarely and said, “Karen, you will not die on my watch – do you understand me?”
The two caregivers in the room then prayed with Karen for healing.
“That really turned it around for me,” Karen said. “I just thought, I have got to get better.”
Karen credits the nurses in the ICU for saving her life – physically, emotionally and spiritually.
“I would like to say ‘thank you’ to all the nurses,” she said. “You guys are very special to me; I wouldn’t trade the nurses at St. Anthony for anybody.”
After an extended protocol of rehabilitation and healing, Karen has been able to return to life as she knew it before she fell ill. She and Jack recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary and continue to stay in touch with Karen’s care team at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City regularly.
Recognize a SSM Health nurse
Do you know an SSM Health nurse who has gone above and beyond to make a meaningful impact on a patient’s life? Please consider recognizing him or her with a nomination for a DAISY Award today.
