Chenitra

A Valiant Effort to Encourage and Empower Others

Chenitra Grimes-Washington recently returned with family members to the Christian Hospital (CH) and Northwest HealthCare (NWHC) Emergency Departments to thank her caregivers for their lifesaving work last fall when she arrived at NWHC as a COVID patient and shortly thereafter went into cardiac arrest and was transported to CH.

“I want each and every one of you to know that no matter how big or how small the role that you played in my care, I deeply appreciate every ounce of the work and time that you gave me,” said Chenitra during her visit. “I am forever grateful to you and I THANK YOU with every part of my soul.”

On Nov. 27, 2020, many staff were called upon to act quickly and skillfully to save the life of a patient experiencing the worst that this COVID pandemic has to offer. Chenitra arrived at Northwest HealthCare Emergency Department, where she went into cardiac arrest while completing a CT study, and was successfully resuscitated.

Chenitra was transferred to the ICU at CH but experienced a second cardiac arrest episode during transport. A pulse was able to again be regained and she was stabilized in the Emergency Department before she was moved to the ICU. She was eventually transferred to Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJH) for possible ECHO, and left our facility with a poor prognosis.

Not only did Chenitra walk out of BJH two days before Christmas, but she, through her aunt Pat Grimes (one of our own Clinical Information System staff), expressed the desire to thank those responsible for her survival and recovery. And Chenitra did just that on March 11, when she returned with her aunt and sisters Yalonda Grimes and Chanquitta King to thank the following staff members.

• CH Emergency Department staff members involved in her care include Marissa Brown, RN, Kelly Wesley, RN, Josh Whitecotton, RN, and Scott Brown, Respiratory Therapist
• NWHC Emergency Department staff members involved in her care include Jeffrey Wing, RN, Teresa Hopper, RN, Crystal (Roxie) Whitley, RN, Greg Kottwitz, ANM, and Jim Heffington, Respiratory Therapist
• EMS Paramedics John Parris and Jake Schneider

“Thank you for all you do each and every day,” noted Brian Shaw, RN, MSN, patient care director of CH/NWHC Emergency Departments to all staff involved. “You touch so many lives, yet often are not afforded the chance to witness your true impact. This moment to celebrate you is such a positive event in the midst of such trying times.”