She Helps Patients & Families Deal With Coronavirus: Darien Hero

DARIEN, CT — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented times. Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these everyday heroes.

This submission comes from Allison Molkenthin, who nominated Martha Odell:

<b>Where the nominee lives:</b>
Darien, CT

<b>Where the person who nominated the hero lives: </b>
Darien, CT

<b>Name of the nominee:</b>
Martha Odell

<b>Name of the person who nominated the hero: </b>
Allison Molkenthin

<b>Is the nominee considered an “essential worker”?:</b>
Yes

<b>What does the nominee do for work?:</b>
She works at Stamford hospital, now working (was 7 days a week for first few weeks of COVID-19) speaking with the families of patients that are very very sick or dying, and helping them understand the medical status, answering their questions about their medical records. If they are fortunate enough to have a nearby relative, she can allow one person to visit the patient for 15 min. and meets the family member, gets them prepared, and takes them to visit their dying relative.

<b>Why do you believe the nominee should be recognized or honored?</b>
She is an incredible person, who, while others may be uncomfortable sheltering at home, is going out every morning go to the hospital to work, often having to take her own mask to work, and working to help the families of the very sick COVID-19 patients. Putting herself and her family at risk every day for others.

<b>What’s one thing you want everyone to know about your hero?: </b>
Martha is an incredible giving person, and if I or a family member were very sick, she is the number one person I would want helping me through this time. Her medical knowledge is vast, and her giving spirit is incredible. Her passion for helping people in a hospital setting may be second nature for her, coming from a family of doctors and nurses, and I think it is in her blood.

>> Do YOU have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here.

All photos included in this post are owned by identified third parties who have given Patch the right to use explicitly for the Patch Local Heroes series.