For the Helpers

SRL donating fifty one-night stays

Savage River Lodge is a place to relax, where you can hit an internal reset button.

But there's not much relaxing happening in the midst of a global crisis. To those responding to the world’s needs, we wanted to offer our mountain sanctuary as a way of saying Thank You.

We collected over 150 submissions and owners Mike Dreisbach & Jan Russell selected their fifty favorite stories to receive one free night on us.

We invite you to read some of their stories, shared with permission —

Kathryn & Andrew, Gibsonia, PA

Kathryn is a primary care physician who is juggling work full time, teaching her first grade and preschool-aged daughters as schools are closed. Kathryn is also preparing meals and doing meal share with other families that are also quarantined due to working in medicine. Her creativity to ensure her patients and her family are healthy is amazing. Cooking and delivering meals to others, they have fostered a network of amazing health professionals and friends. Her husband Andrew is a surgeon, frequently on-call at the hospital and never turns down going in. His devotion to his patients is inspiring. They are amazing parents, teaching their girls the importance of kindness and compassion by setting the example in how they are dedicated to their patients and how they treat others.

Marisa, Newfield, NJ

Marisa is working at two hospitals in New Jersey as an RN during this global crisis. I have never heard her complain, or worry about her own health. Her fiancé is also on the front lines as a Corrections Officer. Her future brother in-law has moved into their home for the duration of this dangerous time since he is also a Corrections Officer and was living with his parents who are older. My daughter is taking care of her home, her fiancé and his brother, and all her patients while ignoring her own needs. I have never heard her once worry, complain or think of herself first. New Jersey has been hit extremely hard by this virus and I am grateful for my daughter and all the health professionals, first responders, and essential workers that are keeping our state safe. Marisa's wedding is planned for the beginning of October, we are hoping that it will be able to be held so that we can celebrate this milestone and that this couple gets their well-deserved day. On the rare occasion I express my worries about her work stress, her health, or her wedding plans, she just smiles and says she is fine and everything will work out. I bring a home cooked meal once a week and drop it on her door step. Since March 13th I have only seen or spoken to Marisa through a window while I stand in the yard, since she does not want to risk anyone's health. Marisa has always been brave and calm even as a child. When she was 12 she had surgery to remove a brain tumor, thankfully benign, but it was an extremely long recovery period. Even this "bump in the road" as she would say, was positive since it set her on her course to be an RN.

Debby, Morgantown, WV

Debby is a neonatal nurse practitioner at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown WV. She has worked there for over 30 years and was set to retire this month. In the midst of all the craziness brought to the healthcare community by COVID-19, she has made the very tough decision to not retire yet. She has a huge heart and has decided she isn’t done helping and doing what she can for her community. She is a genuine, kind woman who would do anything for her family. Debby has a son and daughter-in-law and two beautiful grandchildren who live in California who she doesn’t get to see nearly as often as she would like. The stress and worry being so far from family during a time like this takes a toll. It is another reason a night of relaxation is so deserved.

Lindsay, Clarksburg, MD

This pandemic has impacted our world in countless ways, shaking the foundations of our society and forcing us into a new way of life. One of these fundamentally changed foundations has been our education system and, while we have heard many stories of students, parents and teachers working tirelessly to make this new normal work for our kids, few people have been talking about another critical group of staff: school counselors. In Montgomery County Public Schools, one of the largest public school systems in the country with 165,000+ students, the leadership, coordination and success of every middle and high school counselor has been the responsibility of one woman: Lindsay. She is the Instructional Specialist for Secondary Counseling in MCPS and from the first days of the shut-down, Lindsay was at school sites coordinating meal and Chromebook distribution, holding large-scale webinars to teach counselors how to connect with their students virtually and worked with school principals to make sure their staff and families were getting connected with the resources they need.

Quite simply, the most critically-needed staff members in MCPS would not have been able to serve their communities effectively without the compassionate and innovative work of Lindsay. Further, she dedicated countless hours of her day to her work all while being a single mom to a 3-year old that no longer has a daycare to go to! There are thousands of front-line workers that are literally putting their lives on the line to help save lives and serve our society during this time; their sacrifices can never be overstated. But Lindsay is an unsung hero, working constantly so the counselors of MCPS can connect with our most needy families and students, to ensure that they make it through this time safely and happily. Lindsay has made it possible for hundreds of others to touch thousands of lives, all in a time when touch is such a rare commodity.

Elizabeth, Cumberland, MD

Registered Nurse Elizabeth is a dedicated, caring, and tireless worker in the COVID unit at UPMC-Western Maryland, on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic since this ordeal began. The colleague that nominated her said, “I have had the distinct pleasure and privilege of working with her on multiple occasions and she exhibits the qualities I would want in my own nurse were I a patient. Always a smile on her face (admittedly difficult to see now with proper PPE attire), her bedside manner and professionalism give a sense of calm to both her patients and the providers working with her. Despite the stress and exhaustion of working long hours, Liz continues to work tirelessly. One particular occasion she commented that she had just worked ten continuous days on the COVID Unit and was looking forward to a couple days of rest. I thought what an opportunity to nominate her for SRL's mountain sanctuary getaway. I am excited to nominate Liz for all of her hard work and dedication.”

Kirsten, Oldtown, MD

Kirsten initiated Feed The Fearless, an organization to provide meals to front line essential employees in healthcare, police, and fire departments in Allegany County MD and Mineral County WV. She also identified families in need and provide grocery store gift cards to them. Many individuals and companies made donations totaling about $6000, and a lot of good is being done. One of the goals of Feed the Fearless is to “Be a source of positive energy, joy, kindness, inspiration, faithfulness and an example of God's plan for us... to love one another as he has loved us.”

DrS. Antony & ChitrA, Chambersburg, PA

The husband and wife doctors moved to the Chambersburg area last year with their family and have been working at the hospital nonstop since they arrived. Antony is a respiratory specialist and Chitra is a hospitalist. When the quarantine began and both doctors had to be at the hospital, they had no choice but to move from their home so that they would not infect their children or Antony’s parents, who live with them. They not only are working long hours but now have to live apart from their family. They said how lonely it has been especially during the holidays. They deserve so much to have a night away to enjoy beautiful views, as it has become very depressing with the quarantine status in our area and the precautions at the hospital with their patients. They are hardworking, good people who give their all for their patients on a constant basis.

Katie, Davidsville, PA

Katie wears many hats: Mom. Friend. Student. Paramedic. COVID-19 survivor. Katie is a single parent to two beautiful, funny, kind, smart kids. She has persevered through adversity when many would wave their white flag. She used that courage to complete EMT, and then paramedic, training. Throughout her training, she worked for multiple EMS agencies and was a 911 dispatcher. She was the one to answer the call, until she answered a call that would forever change her life.

She transported an elderly patient who complained of vague symptoms of weakness and inability to ambulate. Four days later, she lost her sense of taste, her sense of smell, and developed a slight scratch in the back of her throat. As with all healthcare providers, she was in a heightened state of awareness of her symptoms and convinced herself that it was "all in her head." She was wrong. When her symptoms did not resolve, she presented to the local emergency room physician who was on duty between her runs. He suggested that she be tested for COVID-19 and immediately self-isolate. Twenty four hours later, her results were available and were positive for the novel coronavirus. Immediately, she called her family and her close friends to tell them the results and to make sure that those who were in contact with her took the necessary precautions.

Katie was lucky and her symptoms never required her to seek inpatient hospital care. Now, she is able to donate her plasma in the hope that she is able to help others who are also fighting this invisible monster. Katie deserves a night in the tranquility of Savage River Lodge to slow down a bit, to enjoy the simpleness of the lodge, to be enjoy a drink by the fireplace or on the deck, and to reset her mind from the turmoil of this pandemic.

Susan, Springfield, VA

Susan has been a nurse for 25 years, but recently has made her home in the intensive care unit on the night shift. She is caring for the sickest people—ventilators, multiple IVs, renal replacement machines requiring frequent attention. Sadly, many die and sadder still, they die without the comfort of their loved ones. This is emotionally devastating to Susan and her colleagues. These nurses do not have time to eat the meals the community generously provides — they barely have time to hydrate as they move to the next machine alarm. The shifts are long, grueling, and sad. But Susan has a remarkable ability to walk into a non-COVID patient room smiling. She sets about preparing the patient for breakfast, combing her hair, cleaning dentures, providing skin care. She chats with her patient about the beautiful day ahead. She was rewarded with a smile and a thank you—all Susan needed to send her home for a restful sleep.

Christen, Butler, PA

Christen is a nurse at a nursing home in Butler. She works night shifts, taking over double shifts as often as she is needed. For over a year now she has been trying to get moved to day shifts, but the nursing home cannot find a replacement as dependable and hardworking as her. She and her husband finally had a vacation planned to get away on a cruise, but then the COVID crisis began.She works so hard, often sacrificing sleep and her own health to care for others. She is long due for a relaxing getaway!

Tiffany, Nottingham, MD

Tiffany graduated from nursing school about a year ago and not too long after landing her first nursing career, COVID-19 had spread across the United States. Not only did she have to apply all her knowledge from nursing school, but she had to quickly learn how to care for COVID-related patients, whether that be diagnosing their symptoms, testing them for the virus, constantly learn about new COVID-related findings, or working overtime because of the massive amount of patients that visit the hospital. Being that my sister works 12-hour night shifts, she is deserving of a night getaway that does not include hospital walls. I would love for her to be able to see the sun come up and rest in a peaceful atmosphere. I could not think of a better way for Tiffany to relax and unwind and appreciate beautiful scenery as much as we appreciate her.

Shannon & Rick, Ellwood City, PA

My forever friend Shannon and her husband Rick are both selfless heroes. Shannon works as a nurse and was quarantined for potential COVID-19 exposure in late March which also put her teenage daughter and Rick in quarantine as well. Rick is our town's fire chief and is an imperative part of our small town. Due to ambulance shortages he leads his team in responding to every medical call in town and is usually on the scene well before the medics arrive. Shannon and Rick returned to their front line positions immediately after their quarantine expired, remained healthy and ready and willing to be the first to respond. They are an amazing husband and wife team, and due to their careers have very little time to spend with each other.

Erica, Mount Airy, MD

Erica graduated from nursing school at University of Maryland last spring. Little did she know that a year later she would be on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. She works on the intermediate care floor at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Erica brightens her patients’ day even with the smallest gestures. My favorite story is when her patient had a birthday and she put on the birthday song and sang to her patient. I can attest that Erica doesn’t have a natural singing voice, but it was the thought that counted. Erica has worked tirelessly and relentlessly since her floor became a COVID-19 floor. The care she provides her patients is extraordinary. She picks up extra shifts to assist with the demand to make sure the patients are taken care of. To call Erica my sister is a true blessing and I am so thankful for what she is doing to help those in need. Since she has been working overtime, she has not been able to see her long-term boyfriend; she doesn’t say it, but I know its been tough. To be able to allow them a night to take a break and relax would be an absolute dream and it’s well-deserved.

VictoriA, Wilmington, DE

Victoria endlessly advocates for families as a transplant nurse. Thirty-hour shifts of maintaining the patient, helping the families and supporting team members is something that comes natural to coordinators like her. At the single most selfish time in a family’s life, my sister helps guide these families to one of the most unselfish gifts and decisions. During COVID-19, staffing has been down not to mention all the stress of precautions that are being taken for the staff and patients. Sometimes four days go by and these nurses and doctors have had only a few hours of rest. They themselves have to stay away from their families because they are in and out of ICU’s. These medical workers are not able to come up for air, they aren’t eating the proper nutrition they should be getting, and solid sleep is out of the question.

ShelleY, Mount Savage, MD

Our daughter Shelley is a Respiratory Therapist at UPMC Western Maryland. She has been on the front lines from day one, preparing equipment, educating staff on proper use of equipment, and above all, hands on patient care. If you read the headlines or see accolades on television, you will see the thanks being given to the nurses and doctors. Nurses and doctors are very important but the unsung heroes of a pandemic virus such as COVID-19, which attacks the lungs, is our respiratory therapists. Respiratory therapists, literally give the breath of life to all critically ill patients — you cannot go through a respiratory pandemic without a respiratory therapist. COVID-19 affects the lungs to the point where you are basically drowning. The respiratory therapist is the one who is instilling medicine down the patients breathing tube; they are the ones who suction the abundance of mucous out of the patient’s lungs and airways. The respiratory therapist is the one who, when the patient can no longer breathe on his/her own, is putting the patient on the necessary equipment, and/or placing the breathing tube in the patient’s airway. Then, their work is not done, the therapist is the one who monitors the ventilator settings and readings to ensure the patient is receiving adequate amount of oxygen. The therapist is also the one who draws blood gases so they can tell the progress of the patient, and again if the patient is getting the correct oxygen for sustaining life. Also, the respiratory therapist is one of the first to respond to a full code (when a patient stops breathing and heart stops) and is the one who is consoling the family as they ask about the condition of their loved one. They are also the one who turns life support equipment off when it is deemed necessary.

As I said, the respiratory therapists are the unsung heroes, and Shelley is right there in the trenches. Shelley has not missed one day of work since this has begun. She has put in countless overtime hours, witnessing patients who are terribly ill and frightened, fighting to breathe, consoling them, helping them to calm down, and also being their surrogate family while maintaining their medicine and equipment. Not only does Shelley have the stress of work during this pandemic, but then to have the fear of possibly bringing it home to her three sons, and husband. Removing her clothes and shoes before entering the house, heading immediately to the shower, incessant hand washing, and incessant disinfecting of her home and surfaces, but still with the fear in the back of her head, have I done enough to protect my family? And may God bless her heart, she also has been doing shopping for her dad and I, and other family members who are also at high risk to keep them safe. Shelley is a giver; she is a true health worker, always putting others before herself. She always has a level head, never gets flustered, and that is why at such a young age she has become the rock of our entire family.

Jan, Waynesboro, PA

My daughter, Jan, is a new nurse practitioner who has volunteered to work the front lines during this pandemic. She usually sees patients in a family practice, but when Wellspan hospital mentioned they needed extra help with COVID patients and in the testing tents, she was the first to offer to learn these new roles and put herself at an increased risk of becoming infected. She is a single mother, and has sacrificed time with her son during this pandemic to serve the community, while working extra hard to unexpectedly arrange childcare for him and complete his homeschool requirements. She has remained strong for him, when he has been confused or scared, not knowing why she was working longer hours or having to wear so much protective gear that she is hardly recognizable. She loves the outdoors and being physically active, which is what has helped her maintain her sanity during this time, but is also why she would love a stay at Savage River Lodge. When she found out she was moving to the front lines, the first thing she said is that she’s going to finally fulfill her dream of going to Everest Base Camp next spring if she makes it through this. This experience has reminded her that life is short and unpredictable, so do what makes you happy today.