Franciscan Health Indianapolis Unveils Monument Recognizing Dedication During COVID-19 Pandemic

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - Reflections on the hardship that followed the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic marked the unveiling of a monument that will stand as a reminder of the bravery, dedication and compassion shown by Franciscan Health physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers.

"No one woke up in March of 2020 realizing their lives would be changed forever. No one thought it, but everyone lived it," said Sister Marlene Shapley, OSF, vice president of mission integration for Franciscan Health Central Indiana, at the dedication and blessing Tuesday, May 16, 2023, of the Pandemic Monument outside Entrance 6 at the Franciscan Health Indianapolis campus.

The monument's sculpture of the Tau cross, the symbol St. Francis of Assisi shared as he ministered to the sick, was created by a local artist Ryan Feeney of Indianapolis. He is best known for his bronze statue of former Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning outside Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.  

"I know it's through your hard work, your prayers and the grace of God that you're all here today to celebrate this moment," Sister Jane Marie Klein, OSF, chairwoman of the Franciscan Alliance Board of Directors, told the group gathered for the dedication.

"The second week of March 2020, the world seemed to stand still. It was a time of fear and uncertainty. We were facing a brand-new, life-threatening illness with no road map to follow," said Paul Discroll, MD, retired Franciscan Physician Network president.

"Over the next three years, there were lulls, followed by repeated surges in the number of COVID patients to treat. Each time, the entire Franciscan community stepped up to meet the needs of our patients, often at great personal risk," Driscoll said. "I can honestly say that the final three years of my medical career were simultaneously the most challenging and the most rewarding."

Indianapolis Emergency Department nurse Emily Cornpropst, RN, was the first staff member of the hospital and 11th person in the state to be diagnosed with the virus in March 2020 and spent the next 16 days in isolation.

"It was very hard not being able to do anything about it. As an emergency nurse, I want to do something about it. I want to do what needs to be done. So, I wanted desperately to be at work, helping my team with the many sick patients that we were being flooded with," she said.

Medical Staff Vice President Imad Shawa, MD, underlined the risk taken by caregivers. "The bravery, the courage that I've seen with every one of you when you leave home and you come to work knowing that you might get something that, at that time, you did not know if you were going to survive or not," he said.

"That's the kind of people we work with. That's the kind of people I'm proud to be associated with. That's the kind of institution I'm proud to call my home," Shawa said.

Sister Marilyn Oliver, OSF, Franciscan Health Foundation development director, shared her personal experience of losing her brother Jack to the virus. Jack was in the Franciscan Health Indianapolis ICU on a ventilator, separated from his wife, who was hospitalized on the COVID floor. Staff arranged for Jack's wife and their children to see him via video.

"The three children and I were all present and able to be with him for short periods of time before his final breath. Spiritual care, nurses and family sang and prayed together." Sister Marilyn said. "While his final 17 days on the Earth were not his best days, they certainly were all they could be thanks to the staff here. May God bless each of you, our COVID heroes."

"We don't ever forget those hands we hold of our dying patients," said Cornpropst, who was also with her grandfather, hospitalized with COVID, as he drew his last breath.

"I was so grateful for the staff that cared for my grandpa as well as for me during that very difficult time," she said.

Elena Mitu, administrative director of Central Indiana Environmental Services, observed, "The pandemic opened my eyes to how incredible healthcare workers are. We truly had each other's back and kept each other going, even during the tragic time when we lost one of my employees to COVID."

Sister Marlene delivered the prayer of dedication, saying, "Today, this monument is for you, as a reminder of what it means to be Franciscan. It means that you gave from your hearts to our patients and our community."

An identical memorial will eventually be placed at the Franciscan Health Mooresville campus. Funding for both memorials came solely from the generous donations of grateful former patients, Franciscan physicians, medical and support staff, and corporate partners.