Courtesy of DePaul Athletics, Bob Sakamoto
“It was frightening working as an RN in the middle of the pandemic. I have never seen so much death…”
Jessica Rodriguez
CHICAGO – Jessica Rodriguez went through the most terrifying time in her life working as a nurse in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at AMITA Health Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in Wicker Park.
Trying to convey what the former DePaul track and field sprinter lived through last March and April when the coronavirus as at its insidious peak in Chicago---you just can’t do it justice.
It’s best to simply listen as Rodriguez tells us in her own words.
“It was frightening working as a RN in the middle of a pandemic—especially since they ended up turning our ICU into a COVID-19-only ICU,” Rodriguez started out. “Our hospital started seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases in mid-March and April.
“It was a really difficult time. I was working shifts of more than 12 hours a day and our ICU was constantly filled with patients. If one patient left, another took their place. I had never seen so much death in my entire career as a nurse.
“I remember going into work and hearing “Rapid Response Teams” and “Code Blues” so often that it started becoming the norm. I felt like I was becoming numb to death, a feeling I never felt before. It was a stressful time, but the outpouring of support was heartwarming. Our ICU had families, restaurants, and organizations delivering food, flowers and cards daily which helped get us through this difficult time.
“I think the first time I realized COVID-19 was serious was when I had a relatively young family admitted to the ICU. There was a woman in her 40s with no prior medical history who was intubated and on light sedation so she was barely able to answer questions. Her husband in his 50s was admitted into our step-down ICU, and their son was admitted into another hospital on the telemetry floor.”
Rodriguez continued: “The husband called me and asked about his wife (in Spanish). I updated him and told him his wife was not doing well. He wanted me to deliver a message—‘Tell my wife I love her and to keep fighting. Don't worry about me. I’ll most likely be going home tomorrow.’
“I remember making it a mission to deliver that message that very day. I ended up gearing up and going into her room and delivering the message. She nodded, teared up and squeezed my hand to acknowledge that she understood the message.
“The following day she was no longer responsive, and the following week her husband was admitted into the ICU. They ended up passing away one week apart. I remember talking to their children many times during the shift and they would often cry.
“I found some solace in delivering that last message to the wife, but it was still so heartbreaking. I kept thinking about how they left young children behind and how the kids were never able to visit their parents. The kids only were able do video chats up until their parents’ passing.”
As President Donald J. Trump continues his recovery from coronavirus, Wisconsin hospitals and healthcare workers are overwhelmed by a surge of COVID-19 patients and all but three states report rising coronavirus cases---a Blue Demon nurse provides all of us a stark reminder of perhaps the most dangerous and scary unknown in our lives.
Rodriguez is one of us---her life not long ago revolving around the Sullivan Athletic Center, academics, competitive sports and prospering in the camaraderie, family atmosphere and comforting bubble of Blue Demon land.
Infused with the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul, she has taken her passion of serving others to another level manning the healthcare frontline during a raging pandemic. The former 200 and 400-meter runner put the safety and care of others ahead of herself and somehow found a way to process all the death and tragedy.
“Working through this pandemic has been extremely challenging,” Rodriguez said. “Due to the cases I was seeing in the ICU, I started to isolate myself from friends and family. It was lonely. I started trying to fight the stress away the only way I knew how, which was through running.
“I kept telling everyone I needed to stay away for their own protection. If I were to get infected with COVID-19, I would not want anyone else to get infected and suffer. During the pandemic, I leaned on my manager, coworkers, intensivists, doctors, residents and running to get through this challenging time.”
Her journey to St. Mary and Elizabeth began shortly after graduating with a degree in Psychology in 2009.
“After graduating DePaul, I enrolled in its master’s program for Counseling,” Rodriguez said. “I've always had a passion for helping others, but my true calling in life was not realized until 2010. During that time my grandfather—who was primarily Spanish speaking—was ill and in and out of hospitals. I decided to take a chance and go into nursing to help people like him.
“I thought my abilities could be used to help serve the Hispanic and other underserved communities through nursing.”
She graduated from Loyola’s ABSN (Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program and started working as a registered nurse (RN) at St. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in 2014.
After working in the telemetry unit, Rodriguez accepted a position working in ICU and also qualified for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program at Resurrection University where she graduated in August of 2019 and was licensed as a FNP four months later.
There is a sentimental side to her journey that began at Sheffield and Belden. Let’s call it a love affair in Lincoln Park.
“My first time meeting (tennis player) Tim Cadet was in Jill Hollembeak’s office,” Rodriguez said. “I remember going into her office to ask an academic question. Her door was open and Tim was sitting there. I remember him having a nice smile. I asked Jill my question—a question I can’t remember to this day—then I left.
“I later ran into Tim in February in front of the Athletic Center. He was on crutches, and we started talking and walking towards Sanctuary where we both lived. Tim had special access being in crutches and I was able to walk in with him through the back entrance. He still jokes to this day that I used him for his special privileges.
“We got married September 12, 2015. We had a deep connection through DePaul and it only made sense to get married at St. Vincent de Paul.
“Tim and I still attempt to incorporate sports into our everyday life. We have participated in half marathons and 5Ks together. Tim works for Peloton as a manager and still coaches tennis on the side at Midtown Athletic Club. We love to travel with teammates from the tennis and track teams. We have adopted two cats, TJ and Lucy, from a shelter.”
Rodriguez was born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago in the Albany Park community. She attended Lane Tech and was a prominent member of a track team that won the Public League championship her senior year and had several relay teams place at the state meet. She attended DePaul from 2005 to 2009.
“My parents Eleonor and Richard and younger brother Ricky had a big influence in my success and career,” Rodriguez said. “My parents are my No. 1 advocates and have always encouraged me to follow my passions.
“I was a first generation college student. Going to a big university was something new. I was scared. It is because of my parents that I was able to follow my dreams. I would not be able to make it if it weren’t for their support.”
Under the auspices of sprinters coach Dave Dopek, she competed primarily in the 200 and 400-meter events and also on the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.
“We spent so much time together and supported each other both on and off the track,” Rodriguez said. “We all understood the difficulties of having to show up every day ready to give our all on the track while still having to manage classes and work schedules. Through this experience I was able to develop close relationships with several people on the team.
“Some of my best memories of track involve relay teams. Track and field is primarily an individual sport, so coming together for relays ignited a different kind of fire. Coach Dopek was primarily my coach during my time at DePaul as he was in charge of coaching the sprinters. I'm really grateful for having him as a coach and mentor.”
Like everyone else, coronavirus altered Rodriguez’s plans in life.
“Due to this pandemic, I put my nurse practitioner aspirations on hold because I wanted to make sure I didn’t leave my fellow ICU nurses short-staffed,” said Rodriguez who worked at St. Mary and Elizabeth until June. “Once COVID-19 started to plateau, I started to look for employment as a nurse practitioner. In June, I accepted a position as FNP at Midwest Express Clinic in Roscoe Village.
“In my current role, I see people of all different ages and manage acute and chronic conditions. I perform procedures such as laceration repairs, abscess incision and drainage, pap smears as well as administer COVID-19 tests. I also prescribe medications, splint fractures and conduct video health follow-ups for COVID-19 patients.
“Actually, I see a lot of DePaul and Lane Tech students. One of my patients was on Lane’s track team, so we talked about that. It was pretty cool.”
Rodriguez carries around with her every day something precious that often influences her path in life.
“I'm grateful for DePaul teaching me more about the Vincentian values of community, service and advocacy for the poor,” she said. “I think these have become essential to my motivations caring for underserved and Spanish-speaking patients.
“I'm also grateful for the athletic department staff during my time---especially Jill, coach Dopek, Kate O’Brien, Terri Sullivan and Richie Fugiel. They all worked hard to create a welcoming, safe and supportive space for student-athletes.
“Even when I return to the Athletic Center now with Tim and other former student-athletes, we always talk about how it feels like home to us.”