After 43 Years, Nurse And COVID-19 Survivor Retires From LCMH

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Before Patti Vaughan retired Monday after 43 years as a registered nurse at Little Company of Mary, she took a slight COVID-19 detour. Sixty-five years old last July, Patti was eligible to retire in 2019, but stayed on to help her team transition to a new computer system when OSF Healthcare merged with Little Company of Mary.

Then the pandemic happened. A kidney dialysis nurse, Patti was called into action to start caring for COVID-19 patients. Everything was fine up until the week before Easter.

“Dialysis is a hot thing when you have COVID-19 because your kidneys can fail,” Patti’s daughter Anne McGinnis said. “She was working normally the first week of April. She was supposed to take her temperature every two hours. She came home on a Tuesday and took her temperature. Sure enough, she had a fever.”

Patti , of Oak Lawn, was seriously ill and spent a few nights at AMITA Health Adventist LaGrange Medical Center, where her other daughter, Erin Vaughan-Bishop, is a physician. Fortunately, Patti didn’t need to be put on a ventilator. Patti, who had no underlying conditions, recovered and was back at work by the end of April.

“I told her we should call it, but she went back to work full time despite being a couple of months before retirement,” Anne said. “She told me this wasn’t a job but a calling. She loves being a nurse.”

Friends and family describe Patti as the ultimate sacrificer. When younger nurses expressed doubt in themselves, Patti’s favorite slogan was “deal with it,” and usually, they found it within themselves to meet the challenge.

On Monday, her last day of work, there wasn’t a dry eye in the hospital. Patti’s team made up funny retirement songs. Patti was surprised with a recognition parade. Mayor Jim Sexton stopped by to wish her well. The car procession went to daughter Erin’s house a few blocks away in Evergreen Park.

Champagne bottles popped while the grandchildren climbed trees. Friends and family filled daughter Erin’s front lawn for a toast.

“I know every kid says this about their parents, but I seriously would not be standing here if not for my mother,” daughter Erin said. “She is the only one who wanted me to be doctor. I didn’t want to be a doctor.”

“She wanted to be a writer,” Patti said. “I told her to write about being a doctor.”

“She inspired me and I have a wonderful life. She is always there for us,” Erin said.

Patti Vaughan's champagne toast

Video by Lorraine Swanson / Patch