TAMPA BAY, Fla- — AdventHealth North Pinellas critical care unit nurse Belinda Spahn and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel infection control manager Heather Stegmeier got a big surprise when Tampa Bay Buccaneer Rob Gronkowski surprised the two with personalized video messages and tickets to the big game.
About Belinda: On April 8, 2020, Belinda was charged with caring for the first patient with Covid-19 to be admitted into the Intensive Care Unit at AdventHealth North Pinellas, Charles Thompson. During his time in the ICU, Charles's condition was deteriorating and he pleaded with Belinda, "please don't let me die." Belinda cared for Charles while also praying and reassuring him to lean on his faith. Shortly after, Charles had to be intubated for six days. The care team at AdventHealth North Pinellas worked tirelessly to fight for Charles and to save his life. After 17 days in the hospital, Charles was sent home – and the North Pinellas team members made sure it was a joyous occasion by singing Lean on Me as he was wheeled out of the hospital. Click the link to view Charles Thompson’s story. [youtube.com]
About Heather: Heather Stegmeier was on the frontline of helping hospital team members at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel stay safe as they cared for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients when the pandemic began. As an infection control manager, Heather has played an integral role in educating and assisting team members in obtaining and properly using personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the pandemic to ensure everyone remained safe as they continued to provide care to the community.
Check out the videos below!
