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California hospital dedicated new relaxation room to Fil-Am COVID survivor nurse

Philippines

California hospital dedicated new relaxation room to Fil-Am COVID survivor nurse

By Noreen Jazul

A hospital in Long Beach, California opened a new relaxation room for its staff in honor of a Filipino-American nurse who is also a COVID-19 survivor.

Merlin Pambuan (2nd from left) poses in front of the dedication plaque displayed in St. Mary Medical Center's new relaxation room dedicated to her. (Dignity Health - St. Mary Medical Center / Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)

St. Mary Medical Center kicked off its celebration of National Nurses’ Week by dedicating its new relaxation and respite room to Merlin Pambuan, who has been serving in the hospital Intensive Care Unit for more than 40 years.

“In honor of her devotion to providing critical nursing care at St. Mary Medical Center for more than 40 years. Not only did Merlin help countless ICU patients over four decades, but she became a survivor herself overcoming COVID-19,” read the room’s dedication plaque.

Engraved in the dedication plaque was a quote from Pambuan which says “Don’t give up. never lose hope.”

“My gratitude and appreciation for each one of you is immeasurable. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The journey continues, some days are hard but every day I'm thankful,” Pambuan said in her speech during the opening of the hospital’s room which was televised by KCAL9.

Pambuan battled COVID-19 for eight months and recovered on December 21, 2020.

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