Inside the COVID ICU unit at Bryan Health, healthcare heroes speak out

Words just can't describe what our healthcare workers are seeing and hearing on a daily basis, they continue to plead with people to wear a mask, social distance, and stay home if you can.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Channel 8 News got a look inside of the COVID ICU unit at Bryan Health for the first time. We also got the chance to speak with some local healthcare hero’s on what they have seen from the inside.

“They’re telling their loved ones that they are tired and they don’t want to go on or on the counter balance, I don’t want to die, help me doc,” Dr. Alissa Clough with Bryan Health said. “Those are the things that as providers stick with you and are just gut wrenching.”

Our healthcare workers are seeing death from COVID-19 every single day.

“I have a scenario in my head of an elderly female, her two daughters came in and they were praying together and she was able to give them two thumbs up before they left the room,” Missy Bartels, a nurse with Bryan Health. “And then we took the bi-pap off after they left the room and she passed away.”

Moments they will never forget and moments that will never get easier.

“We get our face time ipad in the room, we ask the family, hey is this okay? Can we connect you guys? Are you okay with watching this?” Bartels said. “They really want you to be there, so the nurses hold hands while the ipad is playing in the background talking to them.”

Bryan Health does allow what is called ‘Compassion Care Visits,’ where family members can come into the ICU and spend time with their loved one before they leave this earth. Nina Ridl, a Chaplain at Bryan Health, shared her story on a middle aged man who was passing on and got the chance to say goodbye to his wife and oldest son.

“He said, I know I can’t do this anymore but you’re going to be okay and I love you and I will always be watching over you,” Ridl said. “I mean there was no dry eyes in the room.”

These deaths are taking a toll on our local healthcare workers, longer shifts and less vacation time. Some are even saying they are having recurring nightmares.

“My 10 year old ask’s me, did anyone die today? or How many people died today?” a healthcare worker in the ICU said.

The vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel and a lot of our fellow healthcare workers want to be the first in line to receive it.

“I have a daughter who is a Pediatrician, she says imagine the world without vaccines, Smallpox, Polio, Measles, we don’t have to deal with those because of vaccines, and right now we are dealing in world without one vaccine,” Dr. Bill Johnson said.