Former ICU Patient With COVID-19 Reconnects With Nurse She Says Helped Save Her Life

A patient suffering from COVID-19 said an ICU nurse at SSM Health St. Anthony was a blessing sent from God.

For almost three months, Karen Sawatsky called SSM Health St. Anthony her home.

She was in a constant battle with COVID-19, but she said God sent her an angel named Brittany Meadors.

Sawatzky was able to see her nurse, Meadors without her mask and PPE for the first time this holiday season.

“It was my job to not only take care of her, but to remind her on her good day of what she said that she had so much to live for and what those things were,” Meadors said.

Those things were her family.

“Someone put a heart in the window on a piece of paper and that way my family knew what room I was in and they could look up towards the window and some days Jack would come there and he had this little seat and he would pray for me,” Sawatsky said.

Meadors said she easily became attached to Sawatsky.

“Every day, I would just fall in love with Karen. There would be a conversation on the days that she was capable of talking and I remember her,” Meadors said.

Sawatsky said her relationship with Meadors is one that will last a lifetime. 

“I didn't have any family with me. You don't have any family. Your nurses become your family and you kind of fall in love with them in a way because they make you fight,” Sawatsky said.