SAN ANTONIO – Methodist Hospital nurses are going the extra mile to provide a glimpse of hope for a critically-ill COVID-19 patient in San Antonio.
Esther has been battling the virus over the past month and first arrived to Methodist Hospital in critical condition and put on a ventilator, health officials said.
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Nurses were unsure of how much mental trauma Esther had already endured in her fight against the virus and her care team said she was discouraged.
When Esther was taken off of the ventilator, health officials said the first thing she did was turn on her phone to listen to BTS, a boy band from South Korea.
The music made Esther smile and nurses said it was the happiest they had seen her yet.
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Nurses decorated her room with pictures of BTS for encouragement. As Esther’s battle continued with COVID-19 in the ICU, her health wasn’t improving and required increased life support each day, according to health officials.
Her nurses said she was giving up, no longer eating and was not participating in care, which is what inspired them to make a TikTok video to BTS’ music.
With the video gaining traction on social media, the nurses are hoping to get the attention of BTS and have them encourage Esther in her coronavirus battle.
Encourage Esther COVID-19 BTS FanEsther's care team will do just about anything to fight for her happiness and health. Arriving to Methodist Hospital in critical condition and on a ventilator, nurses were uncertain of just how much mental trauma she had already endured in her battle against COVID-19. Over the past month, Esther's care team has seen very few glimpses of hope in her eyes. When she was taken off the ventilator and awoke for the first time, the first thing Esther did was turn on her phone to listen to BTS, a seven-member boy band from South Korea. She listened for over an hour; it was the happiest her nurses had ever seen her. One of Esther's nurses hung a few pictures of BTS in her room to serve as encouragement. A rare instance, Esther cracked a small smile and gave a thumbs up. As her month in the COVID ICU continues, isolation and her declining health seem to be getting the best of her, requiring increased life support day after day. Her nurses say she is giving up, no longer eating and barely participating in care. The entire team has worked relentlessly in an attempt to cheer her up and give her hope. The hope in her eyes was still so difficult to find. A few nurses worked together to create a TikTok video dancing to a BTS song in hopes of grabbing the band's attention to give Esther a little encouragement in her fight to beat COVID-19. At the young age of 37, despite how ill she remains, we can't let Esther give up! We are asking for you, our amazing community, to rally together to help us help Esther. At the heart of healthcare, these nurses are fighting for Esther's life. Let's share her story and get BTS to #EncourageEsther to better health. John Krasinski HCA Healthcare
Posted by Methodist Healthcare System on Thursday, May 14, 2020
“At the young age of 37, despite how ill she remains, we can’t let Esther give up,” her nurses said in a statement.
The TikTok video has been shared on Facebook and has been viewed nearly 50,000 times and counting. It is also nearing 1,500 shares.
Methodist Hospital is asking for the community to come together in support of Esther, share her story and get BTS to #EncourageEsther.
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