By Rev. Kathryn Willoughby Weed

The Covid-19 pandemic has been hard for everyone: individuals, families, congregations. It has been especially difficult for hospitalized patients separated from their loved ones. Cell phones and Facetime do provide a link, but patients want to see loved ones in person, to be touched and hugged. Families also have to cope with this separation, fearful they will never see their loved ones again. This is nowhere more true than on Critical Care units, where nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, and other support staff care for families from a distance while caring for critically ill patients.

Critical Care staff work hard under ordinary circumstances. The pandemic has stressed them almost beyond belief. Some come down with Covid-19 themselves, forcing others to work extra shifts. Most are fearful they will get the disease and/or give it to own families. Perhaps most difficult is the distress, anxiety, and sometimes rage they face from patients and families who blame them for their separation. They often feel unappreciated and underpaid.

The Presbytery’s Relations Committee worked with presbytery member Rev. Kathryn Willoughby Weed, staff chaplain at Thomas Health System, to create a number of Critical Care appreciation events at Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston. Utilizing sweets from Spring Hill Bakery, a local favorite, the Pastoral Care department provided boxes of pastries for both shifts twice in December and placed posters of appreciation around the units. Also, on December 23, they provided Merry Christmas from Pastoral Care sheet cakes.

ICU Chaplain Steve Thornton worked later shifts to better minister to night shift employees. By staggering these events over a three-week period, the chaplains were able to contact and support most Critical Care employees.

They were incredibly appreciative – and surprised: “What is a presbytery?” and “Why are they doing this for us?” The two chaplains assured them the larger community knows of their hard work during this incredibly stressful time and want to say, “Thank you.”

These events were possible due to the generous support of the Relations Committee’s Cluster/Collaborative Ministry Fund. With this help from the Presbytery, Thomas chaplains were able to meet a critical need by supporting and encouraging Critical Care staff during the holiday season.