Inside the COVID-19 wing

41 Action News was granted an inside look at Research Medical Center's COVID-19 wing.

COMMUTE.DOCTORS, NURSES, AALL HEALTH-CAREPROVIDERS SIGN UP FORINCREDIBLY DIFFICULTWORK.

BUT THE LAST SIXMONTHS HAVE MADE THATJOB HARDER THAN EVER.TODAY, WE TAKE YOU TOTHE FRONT LINE, FOR THEFIRST TIME.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER DAN COHENWAS GIVEN EXCLUSIVEACCESS TO AN INTENSIVECARE UNIT AND HE JOIUS LIVE AT RESEARCHMEDICAL CENTER.

DAN,GOOD MORNING.TAYLOR AND LINDSAY, THEUNITED STATES LEADS THEWORLD WITH MORE THAN190,000 DEATHS DUE TOCOVID-19, WITH THE TOLLCLIMBING.

MEDICALWORKERS ACROSS THENATION AND HERE ATHOME ARE STILL LOGGINGLONG HOURS TO HELPSAVE LIVES, AND WESPOKE TO ONE WOMWHO SURVIVED THANKSTO RESEARCH MEDICALCENTER'S TEAM.At the age of 82, SharonDavies is busy.Sharon DaviesI'm an organist, I'm out andabout everyday, I go to thechurch to practice everyday, Ivolunteer at Kauffman CenterI like to play bridge, manythings, and of course goshopping and that sort ostuff.But the pandemic put her busylife on hold.Davies was Cass County'ssecond positive COVID-case.

She was transferred toKansas City's ResearchMedical Center, entering thishallway, and this intensivecare unitfor more than 50 days.Sharon DaviesI became so weak I couldn'tbrush my teeth or take care ofpersonal needswhatsoever.Davies' stay was in a roomsimilar to this, cared for by ateam of nurses and doctors41 Action News was grantedan exclusive behind thscenes peek at the front line,where health care providerswork around the clock duringthis ongoing pandemic.They're doing that workpersonal protectiveequipmentit's a process toput it on.Joel McKinseThe purpose of PPE is toprotect the healthcaworker.Mask, gown, powered airpurifying respirator,glovesitcan be unnerving for a patientto see all of this PPE, or allofthis equipment.Joel McKinseFor a lot of patients, it'sscaryto be in this setting, all themachines and all thiequipment and beeping.

It's ascary time.It's also scary for everymember of the COVID-19team.Dr. John Paul ArmiliVery difficult, I have a wifeandfour children at home, onewith T1 diabetes, so she has ahigher risk category if we bringthe virus home, it's been verydifficult in our normal dailyflow.The rooms on the front linare kept at negative pressureto prevent virus particles fromspreadinSome patients need a dialysismachineothers need aventilator, which requires arespiratory therapist.Tyler RamirezYou can't always save everypatient.

Every patient idifferent.Nurses say that's the hardestpartwith family membersnot allowed in theserooms.Rebecca OuimIt's hard to see the family saygoodbye from a computerscreen.

I think that's thehardest, we hold the computerwhen someone's dying.Cassidy CooperEvery patient that's everpassed away has never bealone, there has always beena nurse at their bedsideholding their hand, being withthem, we don't take it lightly,we're the last person to everspeak with them.They haven't lost everypatient.

They've saved manylives.Tyler RamirezWe really do great thingshere.Rebecca OuimWe can see we made adifference, all the things wedid actually gave someonequality of life.They saved Sharon Davieslife.

She's adjusting to a newnormal after her dischargefrom Research in MaySharon DavieWell it's a new way of life.

Myhusband was on oxygen thelast six years of his life andnow I understand now what hewent through.She went through a lot,too.Sharon DaviesI just never felt like I wouldnotsurvivShe survived COVID-19cared for by a front-lineteam fighting for the lives oftheir patients.Sharon DaviesJust very, very grateful that Isurvived and all the excellecare I had.WE WANT TO THE THANKTHE TEAM AT RESEARCHFOR ALLOWING US INSIDE.THEY TELL ME THEY ARESTILL TAKING CARE OFPATIENTS AS WE SPEAK,AND THE TREATMENTSTHAT HAVE BECOMEAVAILABLE LIKEREMDESIVIR ARE HELPING,BUT IT'S STILL A LOT OFWORK TO SAVE THE MOSTSEVERELY INFECTED.TAYLOR AND LINDSAY?