133: Rebecca Martz

Registered Nurse

Rebecca was born and raised in Berks County, still lives in the area and drives 60 miles to the hospital each day. She lives with her fiancé, who is a State Trooper. He also worked through the pandemic. Additionally, she was pregnant the entire time.

Normal tasks for her at CHOP take place in three different ICU units: Neonatal, Cardiac, and Pediatric. She does patient care in each. Things are always done with care and caution in the ICU. But during this time even more so: always masked, eye safety and gowns were required at a minimum. In the PICU unit there was a COVID-only section that she worked in as well. Generally, 3 nurses may be assigned to a single patient. They would take 2-hour shifts, alone in the room with the child and communicate with Ipads to those outside the room. In these rooms, full hooded suits with interior ventilation units were worn.

Rebecca says, “Thank God I had an easy pregnancy. But there was a lot more anxiety than if I hadn’t been pregnant. The potential for COVID was present all the time. But I love my job and ya gotta do what ya gotta do.” For some time, no visitors were allowed and the nurses were the only “contact” the children had. Eventually one, then two people at a time were allowed in.

She delivered her baby one month early. Because of that, her beautiful little girl was in the NICU herself to receive additional support. But all are well and healthy now.

“I don’t take anything for granted now. I’m thankful my family wasn’t affected and although my anxiety was through the roof, being pregnant and on the frontline, I could never imagine doing anything else.”