Help a COVID ICU RN get back to helping others!

Hi, my name is Margaret Anne (McGough) Rossi.

As most of you know, I have been an Intensive-Critical Care and Emergency Department RN for over 27 years. Being on the “Frontlines” from the beginning of COVID-19, until now, has been the most challenging, draining depressing, stressful…….(too many descriptives to list) time in my career. I have seen more deaths, young and old, and held more hands of those passing….without the comfort of having their own loved one at their side, than I have experienced in the rest of my entire career combined. 

On July 24, I was injured while administering  life-saving efforts during a CODE BLUE on a young COVID+ patient in ICU.  Due to my injury, I missed several work shifts, depleting my “sick leave” reserve. The following months have been quite painful, and stressful, due to my fear of possibly losing my position.  I was diagnosed with 2 herniated discs, Advanced Spinal Stenosis, Spondylothesis, and Severe bilateral facet arthritis causing fluid-filled “synovial cysts” that only get bigger and compress spinal nerves more & more, until they are surgically removed.

On November 3rd, I was diagnosed with “atypical viral pneumonia in both lungs”. This caused me to be out of work, on antibiotics, steroids and rescue breathing inhalers for a period of 2 weeks. Needless to say, the very small amount of “sick leave” hours I had by then, were immediately depleted, leaving me with a less than half paycheck. During the initial “work up” that my private physician office performed for pneumonia, an EKG (electrocardiogram) was performed and showed alarming information regarding my heart. The EKG showed evidence of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy  and a Left Bundle branch block.  These unexpected & worrisome heart issues warranted further studies. I had an urgent Echocardiogram on November 22, and on November 24th was informed that I have Stage 2 to 3 Heart Failure, with an Ejection Fraction (EF) of 30%. The Ejection Fraction Percentage of a normal functioning heart is 55-70%.

This was very stressful and frightening news. My future life, the burdens this would cause for my family, financial and otherwise, and the sheer fear about how long I may have left to watch my beautiful 10-year-old son grow into adulthood, flashed before my eyes and consumed my mind.

Luckily, I was able to get in to see my new Cardiologist on 12/3. I am scheduled for a heart catheterization this Tuesday, 12/7, at University Hospital – Heart & Vascular. He, as well, ordered for me not to return to work until “after I get in there & see what is going on with your heart”. If you Google Ejection fraction 30%, everything you read is yucky & bleak, but I also know there are new drugs and treatments for CHF that can hopefully help me live a long and productive life. 

My cardiologist ordered me to not work & “take it easy.”  Well….that is next to impossible to do when you know your next paycheck is going to be less than a fourth of what it usually would be. Knowing my “sick leave bank” was a big fat zero, but I have over a week’s worth of Vacation time saved, I requested to use my annual leave in lieu of my lack of sick leave, for this unexpected time of infirmity. I was informed that this is not allowed, nor could I “borrow” future sick time (to be paid back biweekly, as earned) due to the fact that I had not been an employee for 2 years time. (only 15 months)

Being proactive, I emailed our property management representative, who rented us our home 4 years ago. We have loved living here….as it was specifically chosen for the amazing public school and gifted program that it allowed Gabe to be a part of. I was hoping to alleviate a little stress over December’s rent, by informing her of what was going on and how much our income had been affected. I requested a grace period to pay our December rent one week late & possibly avoid late fees, due to the unavoidable circumstances.

I received an email response back from our property manager, stating that if our rent was paid a week late, that we would be required to pay $325 in late fees.  She also went on to inform me that the Owner is moving back from China, and we need to be out of the house by February 14. Definitely NOT the response I was praying for. Now on top of paying December rent late, with a hefty late fee, I somehow need to come up with a deposit and first month rent for a whole new place to live (don’t even let me start thinking about the packing…….OMG!).

So there it all is…..in black & white. I’m sorry it was such a long diatribe and I truly appreciate you taking the time to read it.

So back to where I started……. I am sucking up my wilted pride …….and reaching out and praying for your help.  Sadly, managing finances has always been near the top of the greatest stressors that I suffer from and find it hard to step away from, especially when things are tough. With my shot nerves and anxiety about what is to come on Tuesday, what they will find, etc, the last thing I need right now is the extra worry of how I am going to manage to cover medical bills, co-pays, new medication costs, rent, moving costs, and on & on.

Through it all, I pray for God to give me the strength to get through all of this. I sure do miss my Mom more than ever, let me tell ya. I have to stay positive and believe that good things lie ahead.

Thank you, again, for taking the time to read my story, and for any help, you can provide. Even the smallest contribution will mean so much and make a huge difference. Please help this COVID ICU RN get back to doing what I do best…..helping others through their own tough times.

I love you all and will definitely keep you all updated on my heart cath procedure Tuesday, and what the next treatment steps are.