NY Nurse Care Bags

My name is Christina and I am putting together care packages for our NY nurses, healthcare professionals, and first responders as they battle COVID-19. I recently lost my mother to this horrible virus and want to continue her legacy of giving to others. I have already raised over $1000 without having a GoFund me page so let’s see where this goes! I will start delivering these packages on Wednesday to Sloan Kettering and then I plan on delivering more to other hospitals such as Nassau University and NYU Langone. Please read my story below:

These past 3 weeks were a blur and my world was flipped upside down. Now, I want to focus my energy towards doing what I can do to help our nurses, healthcare workers, and first responders feel supported. Please read on if you are interested. I’m starting small. All of these goodies are going to the ICU nurses on the 18th floor at Sloan. I am so grateful for how much they cared for my mom. Since visits were only for end-of- life patients, I could not go when my mom was first admitted. These selfless individuals treated my mom’s medical needs and went beyond their normal scope of practice by taking on my family’s role. There are so many examples of how they did that but I will share a few. I wanted drop off a few things like lozenges, an extended cell phone cable, magazines, and lotion for my mom when she was admitted; however, the nurses explained that the policy was very strict but they will do their best to get whatever it was that she needed. My mom informed me that RN Samantha brought her some of these items out of her own pocket. She refused my mom’s money. I first-hand witnessed just how compassionate these individuals were when I was able to visit because my mom was nearing the end of her life. I was a little bit confused at first as to why I was actually there because my mom certainly did not seem like she was dying. She was still funny, talkative, and her stubborn self. I left the hospital feeling ok but then I realized that the nurse practitioner gave me the opportunity to see my mom in her true form for one last time. I was grateful and sad at the same time. At 2:30 am, I received the most terrifying call of my life. She didn’t have much time left. I quickly got into my car without really realizing that I was driving alone. I immediately called my dad to let him know and he was so upset that he could not be there because he was also battling this horrible virus. RN Makeda,who greeted me at Sloan,  led me to a table with the gear I needed to put on. She apologized to me that the goggles and face shield were not new. They had to sterilize and reuse them because of the shortage of materials. I was so touched that they let me use their own materials even though they barely had enough for themselves. I sobbed uncontrollably when my mother passed. As reality started to sink in, I realized just how alone I was. Usually we are surrounded by our loved ones during such difficult times but COVID-19 takes that away. As I cried in the room after my moms passing, I suddenly felt a hand on each shoulder and 2 hands rubbing my back. I looked up through the goggles and face shield and noticed 2 pairs of watery eyes looking at me through their own face shields. Even though their faces were also hidden by masks, I immediately felt connected to the two humans inside the room with me. Lauren and Valarie were their names. They were so comforting. Valerie made sure I was ok hours after my mom passed. She made sure that I would not drive home even though I felt that I could. She was correct. I was in a state of shock. Valarie brought me breakfast and allowed me to sit in the staff lounge without interruption as I made those dreaded phone calls and waited for Billy to pick me up from work. She also asked a priest to say a few prayers for my mom outside of her hospital room since she knew that we could not hold a funeral. Valerie prayed with us and gave me my first hug after my moms passing despite the “no hugging” policy. I am just so thankful for these angels. That’s why I will be paying it forward and will continue to pay it forward. I will be putting together care bags/boxes/ packages... whatever it may be.... for these amazing humans. If you would like to help out and send these to more hospitals, please contact me because I certainly cannot do this alone .

Items in the care packages include (But are not limited to):
snacks such as popcorn, cookies, chips
protein bars
granola bars
fruit snacks
coffee
tea
lotion
chapstick
face wipes
a thank you letter

more photos to come ❤️