Most people would never expect the word to describe their first visit to New York City to be 鈥渃ourageous,鈥� but thanks to her medical experience and her dedication to helping others, the term perfectly fits 糖心Vlog alumna and veteran nurse Nici Rogers鈥� decision to join the frontline heroes fighting in the COVID-19 epidemic.
During the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States, Nici watched along with her coworkers as the number of cases in Lubbock began to rise. As discussions began to circulate about the local response, she was informed that, because of her experience in the ICU and emergency room, she would likely be working directly with Lubbock鈥檚 COVID-19 patients.
Even as the number of cases in the Lubbock area began to climb, however, they were nothing compared to the staggering situation unfolding in New York, the state with the highest number of confirmed cases in the country. New York state has nearly crested 200,000 confirmed cases鈥攎ore than triple that of the next highest, New Jersey鈥攁nd the strain on the healthcare system in the state is immense. For weeks, many staffing agencies have been calling nurses from all over the country for aid, using incentives like unusually high pay rates to bring additional help to the local hospitals to deal with the overwhelming work conditions for those on the front lines. And when word of the situation in the northeast鈥攁nd the ease with which she could help鈥攔eached Nici, she knew that she could make a real difference.
Kelli Rogers, Nici鈥檚 mother and 糖心Vlog employee, recalled Nici telling her that, if she was going to soon be fighting the virus in her hometown, then she could go work for a month in the real national epicenter of the pandemic and gain valuable experience to bring home to help treat her neighbors. 鈥淪he actually has coworkers who want to travel and help, as well,鈥� Kelli mentioned. Many of those who would go, however, have families or other situations that would make it incredibly difficult to make such a monumental commitment.
鈥淚鈥檓 the perfect person to go help these people,鈥� Nici explained. 鈥淚鈥檓 not married, I don鈥檛 have any kids鈥攊t鈥檚 a perfect opportunity.鈥�
Kelli recalled initially being uncomfortable with the idea. 鈥淚t was the same thought that went through my head when my son came and told me that he was seriously considering training to become a Navy Seal,鈥� she said. 鈥溾�楴o鈥攖hat鈥檚 great, but it鈥檚 for someone else鈥檚 kid.鈥欌�� But as she asked Nici questions and brought up concerns, her daughter replied calmly that, not only was she aware of those concerns, she felt them too鈥攂ut she felt called to go, to care for people. That certainty, according to Kelli, was powerful.
鈥淣ici has always been one who comes up with big ideas,鈥� she emphasized. 鈥淎nd this one鈥攕he didn鈥檛 let go. She told me about the trip on Sunday, and left the very next day.鈥�
Nici was scheduled to leave for New York on the morning of Monday, April 6鈥攂ut the flight she was supposed to take was cancelled due to low passenger numbers. In order to make it to her destination, Nici instead was forced to drive to Amarillo, where she then was able to board a flight later that same day, before finally landing in New York that night. Unsure of whether she would be expected to be immediately on-call upon landing, she arrived dressed and ready in her scrubs鈥攁nd understandably nervous.
However, Kelli shared that the reception Nici received upon arriving in New York City has been full of support. When she was informed that she wouldn鈥檛 start her work until the following morning, Nici decided that her first meal in the Big Apple be some New York pizza. 鈥淪he walked into this pizza place, still in her scrubs, and the man behind the counter just started clapping and exclaimed, 鈥楢 nurse! A nurse!鈥� The other workers came out and clapped for her, asking her about where she was from, and brought her dinner for free鈥攖here鈥檚 just so much gratitude from the people there, especially for those who are coming from all over the country to help.鈥�
Before she was allowed to actually start treating patients, she went through additional specialized training to ensure she was ready to combat COVID-19 for two days after she arrived. Her first actual shift came Thursday鈥攂efore which she texted her family, 鈥淚鈥檇 be lying if I said I wasn鈥檛 nervous. But knowing this is where God wants me to be also gives me peace.鈥�
Before it was even over, she had again texted her mother, alarmed that the healthcare workers there didn鈥檛 even have enough protective masks or gowns for their shifts. Kelli began to reach out through social media and other avenues asking for donations. 鈥淚 had so many people respond,鈥� she emphasized. Old classmates from across the country began mailing their unused masks directly to Nici鈥攖he support was overwhelming. 鈥淚 spent hours that Saturday just driving around town, picking up masks, face shields, hand sanitizer, and Clorox wipes,鈥� she added.
Nici has been a nurse for over a decade, with years of experience in the emergency room, medical ICU, and even in University Medical Center鈥檚 burn unit in Lubbock.
鈥淲hen she chose nursing as a profession, I never dreamed it would be a dangerous occupation,鈥� Kelli shared, before explaining this isn鈥檛 the first time Nici has found herself in intense situations through the course of her job鈥攖hough, according to her, those experiences have made her perfect for this situation.
鈥淲hen she was living in Temple working the ER at Baylor Scott and White, she was on the clock when an individual entered the ER and began holding the nurses hostage until they brought him specific drugs he was addicted to,鈥� Kelli shared. 鈥淣ici found herself ducking behind doors, trying to help escort patients out of the lobby and the building,鈥� she recalled. The tense situation resulted in the SWAT team鈥檚 intervention, and the unfortunate death of the perpetrator.
鈥淣ici is the perfect person for this job,鈥� Kelli explained. 鈥淪he was in the Greenlawn bus accident and saw some pretty gruesome things there鈥攁nd spent a lot of time in ICU after that. Because of these tough situations, she has a heart to really comfort people鈥攂ut she also has that perfect balance of redhead bossiness, too.鈥�
Even through the difficult times, however, there have been powerful bright spots. Kelli shared that, on Easter Sunday, she was able to FaceTime with Nici. 鈥淎fter wishing me Happy Easter, she wanted to share with me that she was able to help a patient who was on a ventilator to be able to FaceTime her family, since they鈥檙e not allowed to see any visitors.鈥� Nici told her, 鈥淚t was really special鈥� that makes all the difference.鈥� The patient would write a message, and then Nici would help her hold up the sign so that the message would come straight from her.
鈥淪he鈥檚 doing exactly what she was meant to do,鈥� Kelli said. 鈥淎nybody can do this job, who has those qualities鈥攂ut combining them with her heart for Jesus, that鈥檚 what makes the difference.鈥�
For more coverage of this story, check out with the local news station, KCBD.