Healthcare heroes ministered to by prayer warrior

By: Major Frank Duracher

During this COVID-19 pandemic, doctors, nurses and paramedics have emerged as dauntless heroes, risking their own health and that of their families. So, it may be easy to forget that they are human too – very fearful and in need of physical, emotional and spiritual comfort.

Major Myrtle Kitchen, a retired officer and longtime volunteer for The Salvation Army in Greenville, South Carolina, apparently realized that fact when paramedics were called to her home in response to symptoms of high blood pressure and the onset of a possible stroke.

"I could see the fear in their eyes," Major Kitchen said. "This was in the first days of social distancing, and our state had just gone into lockdown. Here I am, a high-risk candidate for the virus for several health reasons, and no one was really aware of what all this meant."

The major says that while the paramedics were wearing masks and gloves for their protection, their eyes betrayed their fear of the unknown.

"So, I witnessed to them" even while the paramedics were preparing her for transport in the ambulance.

Arriving at the emergency room, Major Kitchen was met by an eerie sight: this was the first day of shutdown for non-emergency treatments, and the entire ER was dark, save for the nurses' station and one trauma bay prepared to treat her.

She later learned she was the first patient seen in that hospital after the governor's statewide order went into effect.

"A doctor and a nurse came into my room to take care of me," she said, "as the paramedics were about to leave."

Still seeing the fear in their eyes, now as well as the doctor and nurse, Major Kitchen asked if she could pray with the little group before the paramedics left.

"Please do," they all agreed.

"I started praying from God's Word, for our nation, for a cure of this virus and a great awakening of God's people."

As she prayed, she rebuked the spirit of fear that seemed so strong over the hospital, and that God would be with these dedicated, compassionate workers who believed in the saving of lives – even at the risk of their own and their family's health.

"When I opened my eyes after finishing my prayer, I was a bit stunned to see over a dozen medical personnel had joined us in that curtained room to be blessed by this prayer," she said, still amazed.

"A doctor at the foot of my bed was even holding onto the toes of my shoes, praying her heart out!"

Tests were soon done, eliminating a stroke but showing that her high blood pressure was dangerously high. She was transported to the ICU located on the third floor.

"The scene in the ICU can only be described as chaotic," she said. "Everyone was running around with the same fear in their eyes I had been noticing, so during the four days I was there I prayed over each one who had a part in treating me."

Incredibly, she recalled, no one responded negatively when she offered to pray for them and their family!

"They are the real heroes during this crisis, and we can all be prayer warriors on their behalf."