Sister Kelly Stake was caring for patients in the COVID department at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital and also suffered some personal losses during the pandemic.
MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio – Last year Kelly Stake cared for her patients in the United States COVID Unit at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest HospitalShe and her fellow sisters gave everything in an incredibly difficult situation.
“Countless nurses in my unit have been the person who held a patient’s hand while holding an iPad so that a daughter could say goodbye to her mother for the last time,” said Stake. “While we were scared for our own lives for our own families … The overwhelming experience was just so heartbreaking.”
Shortly before ThanksgivingThe devastating effects of the pandemic came far too close to home when stake mother Emma and stepfather Mark went to their local hospital with symptoms of COVID. Both ultimately tested positive.
“She was sent home and couldn’t say goodbye to Mark because they had already worked very hard for him, and mom went home and that was the last time she would see him,” recalled Stake.
At the same time, her stepbrother Jacob, who lived across the country in Arizona, also signed COVID.
“Jacob was in the hospital for a long time,” said Stake. “And I think two and a half months after Mark died, Jacob died in the intensive care unit too.”
CONNECTED: CDC accepts U.S. advisors’ approval for Pfizer COVID shot for children 12 years and older
Stake suffered devastating losses at work and at home while caring for her own young family: her daughter Elena is now 5 years old, her son Victor is now 2 years old. Stake says it’s been the toughest year being a mom and a nurse.
“I was so afraid for her [but] I will work for them so they can have great lives and see mom do hard things. “
That includes going back to school to do her Masters.
“My children are definitely my motivation, and I just want to show them that anything is possible if you just keep trying.”
When Al Roker was visiting Cleveland for tonight’s “Reopening America” series on NBC, we invited Stake and her family to join us Rock’n’Roll Hall of FamePlace to meet Roker to have their work recognized. Thought she was there to share her story, Stake told Roker and 3News’ GO! Morning anchor Maureen Kyle on why she wanted to talk about her experience.
“Our hospital still has an entire floor full of COVID patients,” said Stake. “That’s why you have to wear a mask and get vaccinated and nurses are heroes.”
But we had an even bigger surprise when we presented Stake with a check for $ 15,000, thanks to our friends and partners at Union Home Mortgage. President and CEO Bill Cosgrove explained why giving back is important to his company.
“Kelly is just like me and you and everyone else in northeast Ohio, getting up every day and looking after your family and your community,” Cosgrove said. “It is very special for us to do just a little bit to ensure that we take care of the person who takes care of us all in the community.”
Stake, touched and shocked by the gift, says she’ll keep paying it forward.
“I want to give something to my unit to thank my staff. You know, we love food, we nurses so I’m sure they’ll appreciate it. … I honestly didn’t see it coming. It’s just so amazing, so incredibly generous. I’m still in school so this is a big help. A big help. “
CONNECTED: Al Roker in Cleveland: A must see when he came to WKYC Monday morning to host 3News
