60 Minutes recently
interviewed the care team who treated Mr. Thomas Eric Duncan, the first patient
in the United States to be diagnosed with Ebola; he died from the virus in
Texas. The poem below was written by one of the nurses who cared for him.
When there is so much swirling about this virus, I thought
that this was a great first-person account of what it was like to care for this
man. It is another reminder of the special tasks we are asked to do as
healthcare professionals, most of them that can never be understood by the
media or those who haven’t been given this responsibility or gift.
Let me know if after reading this, it altered your opinion of
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital or the people who cared for him.
A message to you
Inspired by the Texas Health Resources* Family
You came to us sick, frightened, confused
What happened next became international news.
We saw you so ill, with everything to lose
Our goal was to help you because that’s what we do.
Alone in a dark ICU room
We fought for your life, our team and you.
We cared for you kindly
No matter our fear
You thanked us each time that we came near.
As each day pressed on, you fought so hard
To beat the virus that dealt every card.
No matter how sick or contagious you were
We held your hand, wiped your tears, and continued our care.
Your family was close, but only in spirit
They couldn't come in; we just couldn't risk it.
Then the day came we saw you in there
We wiped tears from your eyes, knowing the end was drawing near.
Then it was time, but we never gave up
Until the good lord told us he had taken you up.
Our dear Mr. Duncan, the man that we knew
Though you lost the fight, we never gave up on you.
All of us here; at Presby and beyond
Lift our hats off to you, now that you’re gone.
You touched us in ways that no one will know
*Texas Health Resources is the company that owns Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.
