A life-changing experience

By DEVIN WEEKS

Hawaii was almost in sight for Lillian and John Wheeler.

The Dalton Gardens couple was 72 hours away from digging their bare feet into sandy beaches and clinking coconuts in celebration of their 20th wedding anniversary later in the year.

Instead of a tropical getaway, the Wheelers found themselves staying at Kootenai Health after they and their son contracted COVID-19.

“My husband got the fever, my son got the fever and then I got the fever,” Lillian said. “My husband and I also got pneumonia, so we had to be admitted.”

John was discharged in three days, sure his wife would soon follow.

“He was saying to himself, ‘She’ll be out in a couple days,’” Lillian said. “He thought I would be coming out that weekend, but my oxygen level wasn’t increasing like it should have.”

A couple of days turned into just more than three weeks for Lillian, who stayed optimistic from the start.

“I called it my ‘Kootenai Hilton,’” she said. “At first, John and I were both in the same room and seeing the view of Shari's and Shopko. At least we could see society working outside.”

When Lillian didn’t improve, she was placed on oxygen and was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU). She was told the ICU was best suited to care for her needs at that time.

It was good thinking on the part of Lillian’s care team. A nurse was just outside the bathroom door in the wee hours one morning when Lillian fainted.

“I blacked out,” she said. “I had a collapsed lung. I did not know that. The next thing I knew, I was in the bed.”

Pulmonologist David York, M.D., just happened to be walking by her room when she fell.

“He knew exactly what to do and what had happened,” Lillian said. “I thank God that he had his hand on me and on the workers of the hospital to move me where I needed to be. It was a God-appointed time for that person to be in the right place at the right time.”

In the 22 days Lillian spent in the COVID-19 unit, she befriended another female patient with whom she shared gifts, paper flowers and pictures sent by her family.

“I asked the nurse for tape to put up pictures of my grandkids,” Lillian said. “I said to my roommate, ‘OK, I’m going to share my art with you and we’re going to make our room pretty.’ There was a lot of warmth and love in our room.”

For a time, it felt like she was away at “Camp Kootenai,” Lillian said.

“It turned into camp,” she said. “When my roommate was discharged, I was like, ‘I’m going to miss my camper.’ She called me Fireball. She said, ‘Lillian, you’re such a fireball.’”

Lillian also kept track of the special moments and kindness she experienced with her nurses and doctors.

“One nurse was so sweet. She really helped me through the nights,” Lillian said. “She held my hand, just supportive in that way. All the doctors were also very supportive and positive. They were part of a great team.”

Lillian has since sent cards of gratitude to thank her care team for getting her through what could have been a long, lonely separation from her family.

“The hospital team became my family inside the hospital,” she said.

As of late August, Lillian was pleased to report she was two weeks free from her oxygen tank.

“I’ve graduated,” she said.

Registered nurse Sammy Sperber was among those who cared for the Wheelers during their stay. She said caring for COVID patients is different from other medical patients because of the isolation they experience.

“We are their hand to hold and shoulder to cry on,” Sperber said. “When couples are admitted together, they are able to lean on each other, but to be able to care for and help both of them is truly special. It was an honor to care for Lillian and her husband. Despite how sick they were, they were positive and a light to come to work to.”

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Devin Weeks will be returning to The Press full time starting Monday.