The pandemic may seem like a distant memory, but for many, the pain of not being with their loved ones during moments of trauma or death still lingers. Months went by when many were without the comfort of family, friends, or clergy by their side when they needed them most.
None of us can predict the moment we might have a heart attack and be rushed to the hospital. It’s impossible to determine the exact time a baby will be born. Those who decline and need higher levels of care for disability services or senior services don’t know when this will happen either. Certainly, none of us plan to be diagnosed with cancer.
As a breast cancer survivor who nearly died twice from infection and sepsis complications from surgery, I faced death on two occasions. However, I was fortunate to have my husband, sons, daughter-in-law, parents, family, and friends by my side. I was lucky because my hospitalizations were before the pandemic in 2015. With eight hospitalizations, I can’t imagine what my healing journey would have looked like without their support.
During the pandemic, I saw firsthand the impact of being separated from loved ones. Every healthcare worker experienced this same reality. Without families, friends, and clergy visiting, healthcare workers bore the entire emotional and mental health burden at a time of critical staffing shortages. The reality is that no 24- hour setting had a second or third line to cover. Additional stress was added to residents and patients when they were denied visits from those they needed most.
This life experience propelled me to run for office to ensure this never happened again. I understood infection control and situations where mask-wearing could be necessary. However, with masks, why deny entrance to families and friends?
When I was elected, I got to work to change this and wrote a bill in 2023. Unfortunately, it did not pass. However, the bill to allow pregnant mothers the assurance of having a support person did. I wanted to make sure all Minnesotans had the same assurance. So, I persevered and worked with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Ombudsman for acceptable language for my bill.
I am happy to report that my bill passed as an amendment in 2024. This bill ensures that all hospital patients, disability group home residents, nursing home residents, and assisted living residents will always have a minimum of one support person acceptable to them should a pandemic or state of emergency occur again. This bill became effective on July 1, 2024.
Why is this so important? Minnesotans face a 40% increase in mental health issues following the pandemic for various reasons. Our emotional and mental health are integral parts of our overall health and cannot be disregarded for healing to happen. Sometimes, in moments of tragedy or trauma, there are no second chances for another time together. I remember visiting a high school classroom in our district where a student cried, telling me she never got to say goodbye to her mother, who died in the hospital of breast cancer. As a breast cancer survivor and a mom, my heart sank. I felt her pain that day.
Now, every Minnesotan has the peace of mind to know that you can always have someone with you during moments that matter. We are better when we are together.
Getting things done,
Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar- State Representative for District 3B
