The COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on many nursing homes in New York State and the entire country earlier this year. Despite taking every precaution, Glens Falls Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing was unfortunately no exception, as an outbreak in April affected residents and staff.

Supervising nurse Donita Wiley was hit particularly hard by coronavirus. She tested positive on April 23 and was in Glens Falls Hospital soon thereafter. She spent 25 days in the hospital, 19 of which were spent on a ventilator. 

Donita was thankfully able to recover enough to be discharged from the hospital. She slowly weaned herself off oxygen therapy and, after spending another three weeks at home, made her triumphant return to Glens Falls Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing.

Wiley said she was expecting to return to her job with little fanfare, but she was greeted in front of the facility by family, friends, and co-workers cheering her on. There were even balloons and a firetruck hoisting an American flag to celebrate her first day back. 

If it felt like a hero’s welcome, that’s because it was. 

“She’s the reason a lot of us work in this industry. It’s people like her that care and make a difference to our residents on a daily basis,” Marty Deslauriers, the administrator of Glens Falls Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, told News 10 ABC. 

Wiley, who calls herself a workaholic, said she was looking forward to again caring for residents and missed the camaraderie with her co-workers.

Centers Health Care is proud to have people like Wiley on our team, as Donita and everyone in a Centers community like her make us Stronger Together. 

To learn more about Glens Falls Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://glens-falls-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.