It's Happening: Project LIFT to Lift Up UHC Patients Fighting COVID, Other Critical Conditions Alone
By Julie Perine on January 10, 2021 from It’s Happening
Being hospitalized is difficult enough, let alone in the COVID unit. Since the pandemic has begun, visitation has not been permitted for COVID-19 positive patients. Those patients are alone – quite often coming straight from the emergency room.
Nothing can lift the despair of a serious COVID diagnosis - and facing it alone. But perhaps something can lift the spirits of these patients and let them know – at that moment – that someone cares and is thinking of them.
That’s where Project LIFT comes into play.
It’s been on my mind and I took my thoughts to Lora Edgell, UHC Director of Development. She said there are some specific items that would be useful to and welcome by those admitted to the hospital due to COVID.
The first item that immediately came to mind were universal phone chargers.
“People usually have their phones on them, but not their chargers,” she said. “If they are admitted right from the ER, they are without a phone once it loses its charge.”
Other things she knows would help pass the time are adult coloring books and pencils, word searches and crossword puzzles.
To keep patients more comfortable, a blanket which is heavier and cozier than a hospital blanket would be nice, Lora said.
And we decided that journals and uplifting reading material would also be quite nice.
Project LIFT – Lifting Individuals Facing Trials – will provide isolated patients with baskets containing all the above items. Likely the basket will contain one or more items needed or wanted by the patient. More importantly, it will shine a little light in a dark moment of their lives.
UHC is pretty packed; every bed in the COVID and ICU departments occupied. Rules have tightened up.
“We are on lockdown,” Lora said. “There are also no visitors in critical care, so they are also alone.”
It would be so nice if we could provide LIFT baskets to all these patients.
If we unite as a community, we can make it happen.
We invite and encourage you, your friends, families, neighborhood and civic groups to join forces with us. You can purchase one or more of the above-mentioned items or go ahead and fill one – or more – baskets. You can put your own spin on them - and a handwritten note would be an amazing touch - but there are some guidelines, including that all items must be brand new. Blankets must be store-bought and include original tags and packaging, said Mark Povroznik, Chief Quality Officer at UHC.
“They can be stored for a few days to reduce risk/concern for COVID,” he said.
Mark also suggested small pencil sharpeners for the colored pencils. Good one Mark! I didn’t think of that.
As is hospital policy, each UHC patient receives basic items upon admission: Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap, lotion and non-slip socks. So, those items are not needed.
Questions or comments can be sent to julie.perine@gmail.com. Items and/or filled baskets can be dropped off at 707 Cole Avenue, Bridgeport, WV 26330. Having Amazon withdrawals after the holiday season? Order some items and have them shipped directly. A Project LIFT logo sticker will be included in each completed basket.
There’s already some buzz in town and some civic groups have already extended offers to help. Included are the GFWC Juniors and Juniorettes, GFWC Woman’s Club, Bridgeport High School National Honor Society and a Johnson Elementary class.
Hopefully, we’ll make enough baskets for every isolated patient at UHC now and in the coming weeks. And if we get more than needed, we’ll expand to other hospitals.
There’s no community like our community. I have all the faith in the world we can do this.
Join the Project LIFT Facebook page for updates, progress and more opportunities to help.
Want us to do the shopping? Make a cash donation to the Project LIFT Go Fund Me page HERE.
