“A Respiratory Therapist Traveled from Nevada to Help Save Lives at “Ground Zero” of the Epidemic”
Kate Behring reports about a respiratory therapist Adrienne Androwski who left her home in Las Vegas to help with COVID-19 patients in New York City from April to the end of July in what was then the world’s epicenter of the pandemic.
Traveling from one coast to another, Adrienne Androwski traveled from Las Vegas to New York City in hopes to save lives being a respiratory therapist. Traveling in the middle of a pandemic is something most people were and still are terrified to do, however Androwski explains the joy it brought her. “I was excited to go. I wanted to help where the need was the greatest and this is my husband’s home, so it was a way for me to help him. This was my “Ground Zero”, compared to the real ground zero of 9/11/01, where my husband worked as a NYPD SCUBA officer,” Adrienne Androwski explains.
Going from the Summerlin Hospital Medical Center to the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Hospital is very intense. The hospital is bigger, the number of patients increases, and with that comes bigger responsibilities. Androwski explains what it was like going from Sin City to the Big Apple, “We were a much larger hospital with different procedures and units than I experienced in Las Vegas, although many of the specialty units were closed when I first arrived. The number of cases was much larger, >200 COVID ICU patients when I arrived, all on ventilators.”
Recognizing Respiratory Therapists
Many people did not recognize a respiratory therapist until they became a staple in saving patients during a pandemic. Many people believe respiratory therapists to be someone who only gives breathing treatments. However, that is not the case. Adrienne goes into detail what her career actually consists of, “We collaborate with providers to deliver the most appropriate and effective treatment to the patient. We understand pulmonary dynamics, we interpret lab tests that determine why there is a respiratory insufficiency and deliver treatment to correct or improve the condition. It is a very rewarding career and the exposure has enabled us to receive recognition and more appropriate pay for our profession.”
Seeing New York in a New Light
Packing up your entire life to move somewhere for three months is not an easy thing to do. With moving somewhere new comes with a new home and new surroundings. Adrienne went to New York from April 13, 2020 to July 26, 2020. Within that time she experienced things many can’t say they have or ever will. “I was able to see NYC in a way that it has never been seen before. Time Square, Park Avenue, Central Park, 5th Avenue, Madison Avenue, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and so many more landmarks were abandoned. It was very post-apocalyptic in the way it felt. There were no people, other than the homeless, the NYPD and NYFD, and the healthcare workers coming and going to work,” Androwski explains.
Reality of Covid-19
Androwski had a very surreal time in New York City. She explains how being in a hospital during a pandemic is “terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.” You must remember working in the middle of a pandemic is something many people did not prepare for. Androwski witnessed many sad, unbearable things while working as a respiratory therapist. “I walked into a hospital overrun with sick patients with a virus we didn’t know anything about. We were all doing our best but sometimes that wasn’t good enough. I have to live with that everyday. We learned more about the virus, the way it attacked the body and new ways to treat it, everyday. There were many who answered the call who were unqualified to help and often added to the workload and stress of the situation. We had a tractor trailer for a morgue and NO PATIENTS were allowed visitors. After my first few weeks, we were allowing family members in only in the patient’s final moments, to say good-bye. The family would have to wear appropriate PPE and were instructed NOT to touch the patient. It was devastating to witness families having to say good-bye without a final kiss or touch. Unfortunately, some families couldn’t resist and would be escorted out by security. This was incredibly difficult to witness. SO MANY TEARS during this entire process.”
Thanking Healthcare Workers Around You
Although Adrienne experienced many sad, unforgettable things she also experienced some of the most inspiring. As New York City was shut down, it did not stop the people from cheering on all of the healthcare workers. “Every night at 7:00 pm, the people would open their windows and cheer for us. Shouts could be heard all over the city, banging pots and pans, whistles blowing, “woohoo”s, “yay”s, “we love you”s, and “THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO”, were all being shouted to me as I walked to work. Needless to say it was overwhelming and so emotional. We had food delivered to us, people came to sing to us as we entered the hospital. The most memorable sight was on my second day of work. As I approached the hospital I heard the familiar sound of the bagpipes. When I rounded the corner to the entrance, there he was, a single man, playing AMAZING GRACE on the bagpipes. I was overcome with emotion and could not hold back the tears. I stood there and absorbed his gift to us and let the tears run down my face. I can still hear him and feel the sense of pride and sadness at the same time. Pride for being able to finally serve my country and community, and sadness for the reason I was called to serve,” Adrienne said.
There are so many healthcare workers throughout the world that have put their lives at risk in order to do their job. Adrienne Androwski is not only a respiratory therapist but a hero at the end of the day. As we continue to fight this virus as a community take a moment and thank a healthcare worker around you.
Reporting by Kate Behring
