CLEVELAND — During her 14 years at Cleveland Clinic's Marymount Hospital, Serah Murumba, nursing manager of the ICU, has seen it all. However, nothing could have prepared her for the pandemic, and what she and her team would endure as caregivers at the start of it in 2020.
"We were all scrambling to make sure we have enough staff, if we have enough equipment, if we have enough stuff that we need to care for our patients," Serah told us.
Just as COVID cases seemed to be settling down before winter of 2021, it struck Serah's unit again.
"It hit us so hard as far as the sensors, the lack of beds, and just lack of staffing to cover all this influx of patients that we had. So it was rough," Serah said.
Yet, in the face of her greatest challenge as a health leader, Serah remained steadfast, greeting her team with warmth and encouragement each day.
"She has a smile on that face, no matter what. She led through some really difficult times," said Barb Zinner, chief nursing officer for Cleveland Clinic's Marymount Hospital. "She encouraged and she lifted up others when they needed lifting up. She was there to support them through all of this."
She supported her team, even as her own health took a turn.
"So I received a kidney transplant in April of 2020," Serah said. "I had been a dialysis patient for 10 years prior to that."
It was a new life for Serah as she recovered at home. Her daughter, Diana, was by her side, caring for her. Then, she went right back to work, only to become a patient herself, once again.
"I got the transplant in April and I got COVID in November," Serah remembered. "I was hospitalized for about 12 days. My oxygen demand was bad. Like, I see with my patients here. I know that struggle of not getting that air. I know that struggle of not being able to get up and walk to the bathroom, to use it on your own, because you're gonna be short of breath."
It's that kind of perspective that made Serah stand out as a leader.
"I've had a lot of health issues. So, my job has helped me personally, just be a better practitioner, be a better listener, be a better nurse," Serah said.
Her giving spirit, can't be taught.
"She gives because she wants to give," Barb said. She is just the most wonderful, formal and informal leader that I could ask for, to have on this nursing team," Barb said.
Serah, thank you, for being a hero with heart.
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3News wanted to find a way to thank these incredible "Heroes with Heart" on the Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital’s ICU staff. And Lindsay Buckingham surprised Serah and her team at Cleveland Clinic Marymount with some well-deserved gifts live on-air:
-Spirit Airlines generously gifted Serah two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the world where they fly - perfect for a well-earned getaway.
-Panera wanted to make sure the entire team enjoyed a delicious meal, and donated $500 in gift cards to supply the team with plenty of food to keep them fueled on their long shifts.
- Clove, a sneaker brand specifically designed for healthcare, is honored to donate 80 pairs of sneakers to the inspiring frontline workers at Cleveland Clinic. The location is near and dear to Clove’s founder and Ohio native, Joe Ammon’s heart as his wife, a registered nurse and the inspiration behind the brand, formerly worked at this medical center.
Watch here for a special message from Joe Ammon:
More Heroes with Heart with Lindsay Buckingham: