'A Little Extra Light': Silver Cross ICU Nurse Paints ICU Patients' Doors To Brighten Holidays

NEW LENOX, IL — It started as an effort to uplift spirits—staff's and patients'—in the ICU amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and has become a treasured holiday expression of love for one Silver Cross nurse.

Staring down bleak isolation and low morale, Lockport woman and Intensive Care Unit nurse Kaci Svornik first picked up a paintbrush at the hospital five years ago, and set out to make something special happen.

Svornik painted the glass windows of doors in the unit—30 in all—splashing them with colorful holiday scenes and vibrant characters: a small act that made a huge—and lasting—impact.

"Just trying to get a little bit of happiness," Svornik told Patch. "When I first started, those were bad times. People were in bad morale. Families couldn’t come. I was trying to give them a little extra something to give ‘em a little extra light in the day."

Each year, Svornik gets back to it. She's transitioned from chalk paint to acrylic, making her scenes more vibrant. She's added characters and kept favorites. Snowflakes, reindeer, snowmen, colorful candy canes and Santa’s smile—her hand-painted designs a little gift of joy. And the finishing touch? A stunning Christmas tree painted on the large window at the end of the hallway, creating a festive focal point that makes the ICU feel less clinical and a lot more comforting.

"Usually, people ask who does them," Svornik said, modestly. "They’re always amazed. People always say it lifts spirits during the holidays. In the ICU, it’s tough. It tends to make people smile. They always stop and stare a few minutes. ... It puts a smile on their face—they look forward to it."

Svornik knows the holidays can feel heavy when you or a loved one are in the hospital, particularly in the ICU. She hopes her art can ease that burden.

“Every year I’ve been going with the same characters, but this year I had a whiteboard and asked our staff to write down ideas with what they wanted to see,” said Kaci. “And I always paint a big tree on the window at the end of the hallway. Everyone usually likes that one a lot.”

This year, suggestions and additions have included Scrooge McDuck, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, the Grinch and poinsettias. Someone wanted to see a nurse snowman, she said—"a cute idea I hadn't thought of before."

The art is a labor of love for Svornik, who has worked at the hospital for six years.

"I’ve always liked to draw, always been pretty decent at drawing," she said. "Always liked to do it on my free time, even as a little girl growing up."

She comes in on days off or stays after work, sometimes an hour or two, with each door taking about 30 minutes to an hour (depending on how detailed she gets).

"I have always been a gift giver, so this is part of that," she said. "I just like making a difference in someone’s day, making someone smile. Giving them something they’re looking forward to."

Svornik thanked Dr. Kris McDonough, who has always cheered on her efforts.

"He’s the one who encourages me every year," Svornik said. "He’s always the one encouraging me to do this, and tells me how happy it makes them."

Her parents and friends are proud of how she's using her artistic ability to make spirits bright.

"They know I take time out of my day to do it," she said. "They’re always happy to see it’s being appreciated."