Inside a California ICU: Health care workers cope with trauma, provide comfort to COVID patients

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As the pandemic has ravaged the United States, frontline health care workers have remained resilient in helping the sick and dying. But it has taken a toll.

To prevent the virus from spreading further, families haven't been allowed to visit loved ones in the hospital. Medical workers across the United States — first responders, nurses, doctors, social and spiritual support specialists — have tried to bridge the gap by connecting families with phone and video calls. 

USA TODAY’s Harrison Hill and Sandy Hooper take you into Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, California, a community in northwestern Los Angeles, as the hospital staff battle the pandemic.

While some of the following scenes may be difficult to witness, they show the harsh reality faced every day by health care workers across the country. 

A registered nurse checks on a patient on the COVID floor at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021.
A registered nurse checks on a patient on the COVID floor at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Michelle Kilian, an ICU nurse at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, holds a patient's head after brushing and braiding their hair Feb. 9, 2021, in Mission Hills, Calif.
Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Julie Medeiros, respiratory therapist
“Sometimes all you can do is brush and braid someone’s hair, and if I have time I try to do it.”
Harrison Hill, USA TODAY

Etelvina Dominguez, 78, loved pro wrestling and tending to the family garden. “Vina,” as her family called her, was hospitalized with COVID-19 and put on life support. The day before her death, only her husband and eldest son could be there as the rest of the Dominguez family said their goodbyes over a video call.


Lorenzo Dominguez Jr., left, preps his father, Lorenzo Dominguez Sr., before visiting their matriarch, Etelvina, 78, on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, Calif.
Lorenzo Dominguez Jr. and father Lorenzo Dominguez Sr. Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Lorenzo Dominguez Jr., 54, Etelvina’s eldest son
“I hear about it, I see it on the news, and it doesn’t really hit you until it hits home — and it definitely hit home.”
Lorenzo Dominguez Jr. and father Lorenzo Dominguez Sr. Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Lorenzo Dominguez Jr., 54, prays for his mother, Etelvina Dominguez, during a visit to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. Dominguez and his father, Lorenzo Dominguez Sr., right, were the only family members allowed into the hospital. "The strength, Lord, give me the strength to get through this," Dominguez Jr. said as he got down on his knees. "Give my father the strength. That you send my mom on a peaceful journey. That you wait for her with open arms." Etelvina passed away the next day.
Members of the Dominguez family talk to Etelvina Dominguez, 78, via a smartphone on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, family visits are allowed only in special cases, but they can visit by video calls. Etelvina spent more than 30 days in the hospital battling COVID-19 and passed away a day after her eldest son and husband visited her.
Lorenzo Dominguez Jr. prays for his mother, Etelvina Dominguez, during his visit at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center on Feb. 12, 2021, in Los Angeles. Dominguez and his father, Lorenzo Dominguez Sr., right, were the only family members allowed into the hospital. Members of the Dominguez family talk to Etelvina, 78, through a smartphone. Lorenzo Dominguez Jr. prays for his mother, Etelvina Dominguez, during his visit at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center on Feb. 12, 2021, in Los Angeles. Dominguez and his father, Lorenzo Dominguez Sr., right, were the only family members allowed into the hospital. Members of the Dominguez family talk to Etelvina, 78, through a smartphone. Lorenzo Dominguez Jr. prays for his mother, Etelvina Dominguez, during his visit at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center on Feb. 12, 2021, in Los Angeles. Dominguez and his father, Lorenzo Dominguez Sr., right, were the only family members allowed into the hospital. Members of the Dominguez family talk to Etelvina, 78, through a smartphone. Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
While family members were largely not able to visit their hospitalized loved ones who are battling COVID-19 at Holy Cross Medical Center, some sent flowers, posters and other mementos to help patients feel closer to their families, like the mementos pictured.
Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Julie Medeiros, respiratory therapist
“I think we’re all hanging in there. We [have] worked so many hours, so many extra hours and seen more death than anyone should ever have to see.”
Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Respiratory therapist Julie Medeiros, center, and intensive care nurses prepare to "prone" a patient on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. ICU nurses prone, or flip, a patient on their stomach or back every two hours to allow better expansion of the lungs, ultimately leading to improved oxygenation of the blood. "We're doing this a lot," Medeiros says. "You need a number of people to help turn patients."
Respiratory therapist Julie Medeiros, center, and intensive care nurses prepare to "prone" a patient on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. ICU nurses prone, or flip, a patient on their stomach or back every two hours to allow better expansion of the lungs, ultimately leading to improved oxygenation of the blood. "We're doing this a lot," Medeiros says. "You need a number of people to help turn patients." Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
A patient lies on their stomach in the intensive care unit at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021.
A patient lies on their stomach in the intensive care unit at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
A nurse cleans a patient's mouth in the intensive care unit on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. "With COVID cases, some patients are not able to maintain their airways so they have to be intubated in order for them to stay alive," says Nino O, a travel nurse from Long Island, New York.
Travel nurse Thu Nguyen catches her breath inside the ICU unit at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Nurses are required to wear PPE for hours at a time while working with patients, sometimes causing bruises or scars around their eyes and nose.
A nurse cleans a patient's mouth inside the intensive care unit. Travel nurse Thu Nguyen catches her breath inside the ICU unit. Nurses are required to wear PPE for hours at a time while working with patients, sometimes causing bruises or scars around their eyes and nose. A nurse cleans a patient's mouth inside the intensive care unit. Travel nurse Thu Nguyen catches her breath inside the ICU unit. Nurses are required to wear PPE for hours at a time while working with patients, sometimes causing bruises or scars around their eyes and nose. A nurse cleans a patient's mouth inside the intensive care unit. Travel nurse Thu Nguyen catches her breath inside the ICU unit. Nurses are required to wear PPE for hours at a time while working with patients, sometimes causing bruises or scars around their eyes and nose. Harrison Hill, USA TODAY

Dr. Marwa Kilani is a palliative care doctor at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. Her specialization aims to provide “patients relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness, no matter the diagnosis or stage of disease,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

When things take a turn for the worst, Kilani is the one who has tough conversations with families on what they can expect and what the next steps are for their loved ones.


Dr. Marwa Kilani, a hospice and palliative medicine specialist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, does a video call with a patient's daughter on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. She is responsible for updating families on her patients' conditions because no visitors are allowed during the pandemic. "It's traumatic to hear families on the other end, tearful and crying," Kilani said. "COVID is a whole different beast and we've had to jump in and move forward as best we can."
Dr. Marwa Kilani, a hospice and palliative medicine specialist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, does a video call with a patient's daughter on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. She is responsible for updating families on her patients' conditions because no visitors are allowed during the pandemic. "It's traumatic to hear families on the other end, tearful and crying," Kilani said. "COVID is a whole different beast and we've had to jump in and move forward as best we can." Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
The sun beams across medical supplies in an intensive care room on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The sun beams across medical supplies in an intensive care room on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. Harrison Hill, USA TODAY

Chaplain Kevin Deegan is one of the hospital’s trained spiritual care providers who provide support regarding “the deeper spiritual meaning and understanding of suffering and sickness, health and wellness.” During the pandemic he has had to facilitate conversations with families over video calls, providing the best spiritual care he can while families navigate the situation from afar.

“This year for all of us has been a year of one thing after the next of all bad news, it feels like, but at the same time, there are those glimmers of hope,” Deegan said.


Chaplain Kevin Deegan spends his days checking on the health and well-being of patients and staff at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. Chaplains "are well-integrated into the life of the hospital," Deegan said. "As a chaplain, it's my job to offer emotional and spiritual support, to be a compassionate presence, to be a supportive presence."
Chaplain Kevin Deegan spends his days checking on the health and well-being of patients and staff at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. Chaplains "are well-integrated into the life of the hospital," Deegan said. "As a chaplain, it's my job to offer emotional and spiritual support, to be a compassionate presence, to be a supportive presence." Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Chaplain Kevin Deegan prays with a patient on the COVID floor at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. "I never expected to become an expert in offering care during a pandemic," Deegan said. "I find myself becoming more vulnerable; I'm more compassionate."
Chaplain Kevin Deegan prays with a patient on the COVID floor at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. "I never expected to become an expert in offering care during a pandemic," Deegan said. "I find myself becoming more vulnerable; I'm more compassionate." Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Chaplain Kevin Deegan holds a patient's hand while praying with her on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, on the COVID floor at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. "I'll never be afraid of donning PPE to go and sit and hold the patient's hand, to brush their hair with my hand, to lay my hands on them and pray with them," Deegan said. "Fear is not a part of the care that I'm offering anymore."
Chaplain Kevin Deegan holds a patient's hand while praying with her on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, on the COVID floor at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. "I'll never be afraid of donning PPE to go and sit and hold the patient's hand, to brush their hair with my hand, to lay my hands on them and pray with them," Deegan said. "Fear is not a part of the care that I'm offering anymore." Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Chaplain Kevin Deegan prays while inside the Providence Holy Cross Medical Center chapel on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Mission Hills, Calif.
Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Kevin Deegan, chaplain at Providence Holy Cross
“There are those moments of strength, those times where we find ourselves digging down deep to reservoirs of strength that we didn’t know we had.”
Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
Each day at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, Chaplin Kevin Deegan passes through a hallway filled with glass windows to get to the COVID unit, as he does pictured on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. Outside the windows is a message thanking hospital staff for their work.
Each day at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, Chaplin Kevin Deegan passes through a hallway filled with glass windows to get to the COVID unit, as he does pictured on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. Outside the windows is a message thanking hospital staff for their work. Harrison Hill, USA TODAY
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