Memoir Shows Pandemic Through Eyes Of Advocate Christ Nurses

OAK LAWN, IL — Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, one of the busiest level-one trauma centers in the Chicago-area, received its first patient with COVID on March 19, 2020. Since that day, caring for these patients has been the primary, unrelenting commitment of the nurses of the hospital.

Now, 40 of the nurses of that institution have shared their experiences during the early days of the pandemic in a recently published book, “Through Our Eyes – Perceptions from One Hospital’s Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

As part of this year’s National Nurses Week, there will be a book-signing in which ten of the nurses will participate. On Saturday, May 8, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., starting at Bookie’s Chicago on 103rd Street and Western Avenue, the nurses will be set up at restaurants and businesses running south along Western Avenue, and at the Edna White Community Garden at 111th Street and Esmond Avenue.

Lynn Hennessy, MS, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President and chief nursing officer of Advocate Christ, the originator of the book, will be one of the participants.

“The purpose of ‘Through Our Eyes’ is to present an inside look at frontline workers during an international health crisis. We wanted people to understand how our caregivers have suffered and endured during this time. The book signing allows people to meet the authors, and to talk with them a little bit to get a better understanding of what they have gone through, and what they are still going through,” said Hennessy.

Hennessy will be joined by Kimberly O’Connor, staff person for operations and special projects, who oversaw the production of the book. The nurses participating are reported to be Mallorie Rosales, Zharmaine Zafra, Maribeth O’Connell, Ed Torres, Asil Aldarawsheh, Meagan Cleary, Linda Arciniega, Heidi Parker, and Mary Fran Oskvarek.

The year 2020 was originally designated by the World Health Assembly as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. To honor the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, the plan was to recognize the important role these practitioners play in the healthcare system.

However, in May of 2020, plans to celebrate National Nurses Week had to be put on hold due to the pandemic. Instead, the nurses were given journals in which to record their experiences, thoughts, and feelings while working with patients with COVID. Last fall, the nurses were asked to submit journal entries to be included in a book. The result was “Through Our Eyes.”

Readers will find “Through Our Eyes” a worthwhile book to explore but should know that the entries are intense and emotional, not meant for light reading. Some titles of the entries include “How Are You Doing?”, “We Are Their Families,” and “I Never Saw It Coming.” Many of the stories detail the devastating effects of the virus on patients and their families.

The book also reveals a lot about these nurses as “regular” people. They have families, they have hobbies and interests. One is a bird watcher, one loves live music, another loves riding her bike. They have hopes and dreams and fears. One had to reschedule her wedding because of the virus. Another moved out of his family’s home and into temporary quarters, so he wouldn’t bring the virus home to his vulnerable parents. One worked during the AIDs crisis only to be much more afraid of COVID.

Readers may find themselves wondering why these nurses put themselves through this physical and emotional ordeal of caring for COVID patients. That question is answered by the extraordinary compassion, resilience, altruism, determination, and community commitment that comes shining through the pages of this book that set nurses apart from most other people.

The stories were from spring and summer 2020, and now, almost a year later, Hennessey said, “I walked through the halls and I saw the fear in the staff’s eyes. Looking back, we ask ourselves, how did we do it? Could we ever do it again? But I know we would do it again if we had to.”

Society needs to recognize and be grateful that there is this small segment of the population that is willing to take on this nursing role.

“Through Our Eyes” is available for sale at Bookie’s-Chicago, 10324 S. Western Avenue, the starting point for the book signing. The locations hosting the nurse authors are Running Excels (10328), Alderman Matt O’Shea’s 19th Ward Office (10400), Country Financial (10414), Horse Thief Hollow (10426), Nicky’s of Beverly (10500), Cork and Kerry (10614), County Fair Foods (10800), and Open Outcry Brewing Company (10934). There will be plenty of opportunities not only to meet the authors but to enjoy the food and beverage establishments and do some shopping and business along the way.

The Edna White Community Garden will be a welcomed host site with parking and natural green space for social distancing and enjoying nature. Hennessy will be stationed at the Garden.

In addition to Bookie’s-Chicago and the Edna White Community Garden, the Beverly Area Planning Association (BAPA) is an official host of the event.

The book is also available through Advocate Christ Medical Center at Advocate Giving/Support Nurses. Customers can select to have their order shipped or ready for pick up at Advocate Christ Medical Center’s cashier’s office, which is located on the 1st floor next to the elevator.

The book goes for a minimum donation of $40, and all proceeds will fund programs in support of the hospital’s nurses and other healthcare professionals. Not surprisingly, COVID-19 has taken a mental and emotional toll on the staff, and depression and anxiety are not uncommon. The proceeds of the book will enhance the medical center’s Caregiver Research, Education, and Wellness initiatives and funding.

“I am proud and grateful for the staff’s dedication in caring for our patients and for each other,” said Hennessy.

Supporting the nurses by buying the book – and meeting them at the book-signing – will be one way for the public to also show its gratitude.