Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Fall 2020

THE BETTER TO SERVE YOU Our healthcare services are expanding. SEE PAGE 10 ® M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H C A R E — S A N A N T O N I O ● F A L L 2 0 2 0 For more stories of how healing goes beyond medicine, see page 2. WEDDINGS, INTIMATE ANNIVERSARY DINNERS and YouTube videos are not part of the hospital experience for most patients. But at Methodist Healthcare, they have proven to be an effective way to address the emotional impact of COVID-19 and other life-threatening conditions on both patients and staff. “It’s important that our patients know that they aren’t alone, even though they may be temporarily separated from family and friends,” said Allen Harrison, President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare. “There is a power in the human connection that goes beyond medicine, and with creativity and compassion our staff has reached out to patients to strengthen that connection. And, in helping our patients overcome the emotional impact of COVID-19, our staff has shared in their recovery.” These stories reflect the commitment by staff at all our facilities to care for our patients like family. LOVE CONQUERS ALL COVID-19 can’t stop love. Carlos Muniz and his fiancée, Grace, had everything arranged to wed and were ready to say “I do” when he suddenly came down with COVID-19. His condition became critical, and he was placed on ECMO, a form of life support, at Methodist Hospital as a last chance at survival. Carlos’ fight for his life had diminished over the weeks, and his emotions drained from his body. When Matt Holdridge, R.N., learned that the couple’s nuptials had been cancelled, he made the decision to hold them anyway—a decision that pos- sibly saved Carlos’ life. “A lot of people started volunteering for it—and be- fore you knew it, every nurse in the unit knew and was trying to figure out ways to make it more special,” said Holdridge. “What better way to help him recover than to fulfill their dream of getting married?” On August 11, several members of the hospital staff, with a doctor nearby, rolled Carlos, who was in his bed, into a hospital atrium to meet Grace. Carlos had a tux-like shirt laid on top of his body. Grace wore her beautiful wedding gown and white mask. A hospital chaplain performed the ceremony. Letters spelling out “Just Married” were attached to the back of his bed. “The day after his wedding, he got out of his bed for the first time, which was a huge step for him,” said Holdridge. By August 14, almost a month after he had been admitted to the hospital and 20 days after he had been placed on life support, he become strong enough to be taken off his ventilator. “During the pandemic, we’ve had to find creative ways to connect with our patients,” said Holdridge. “The wedding was amazing…it was intended to be part of his recovery, but it also was part of our recovery, too.” Adding to the impact of the ceremony, the story went viral and was shared on social media and traditional media, with a total reach of more than 1.6 billion people. The story gave much-needed moral support to others fighting the virus. Healing COVID-19 can’t stop love When Carlos Muniz came down with COVID-19, he and his fiancée, Grace, were about to cancel their wedding. His condition was critical. Staff at Methodist Hospital stepped up and helped them stage their wedding ceremony in a hospital atrium. Many think the ceremony saved his life, and it also was a very rewarding experience for the many staff members who volunteered their time to make it happen. THAT GOES BEYOND MEDICINE