COM student helps with COVID-19 patient鈥檚 successful recovery at New Hampshire hospital
It can be difficult finding signs of light during the coronavirus pandemic. But Lisa O鈥橩ane (D.O., 鈥20), experienced what she called a 鈥渕agical moment鈥 during the final days of her clinical rotation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, New Hampshire.
That moment came when O鈥橩ane, along with hospital staff members, wheeled Robert White of Moultonborough out of the hospital to find a gathering of his family members waving sings and cheering.
鈥淗e was the first patient with COVID-19 that we admitted and the first to be discharged,鈥 O鈥橩ane explained. 鈥淚 felt really connected to him. Typical patients have family members there and they have people to talk to. But with the COVID situation, no visitors are allowed. So, patients really depend on you for all of their interaction.鈥
White tested positive for the virus after coming down with flu-like symptoms.
鈥淲e were really worried about him. He was very, very sick,鈥 O鈥橩ane stated.
A tube had to be placed into White鈥檚 airway so that he could be placed on a ventilator.
鈥淚 was able to hold his hand while all this was going down and talk to him before he was intubated,鈥 O鈥橩ane said.
Soon, doctors saw signs of improvement.
鈥淗e turned a corner and then just kept on getting better and better,鈥 O鈥橩ane commented.
O鈥橩ane had secured iPads for the ICU. When White was feeling better, she was able to connect him with his wife through Facetime.
鈥淗e just lit up hearing her voice,鈥 O鈥橩ane said. 鈥淚t was just such an amazing moment to see.鈥
After a few weeks of hospitalization, White was well enough to go home. As O鈥橩ane and hospital staff members led him out the hospital door, they were greeted by White鈥檚 family.
鈥淚 didn't expect anything, but his entire family was there holding signs for us and for him,鈥 O鈥橩ane exclaimed. 鈥淗is wife was there and came and hugged him and everybody was crying. It was just one of those magical moments.鈥
O鈥橩ane has wrapped up her clinical rotations and is planning to head to New Jersey for a general surgery residency this summer. Her career in the health care field is just beginning, but she already has had an experience that she won鈥檛 soon forget.
