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SSJ Spirit of Courage Honoree

Arlene Russell

In many professions, the efforts, ethics, and enthusiasm of a single individual merit such outstanding praise that this person becomes a symbol of excellence, an individual to be revered, and one to be emulated. Because of her selfless devotion to wounded soldiers and women during the Crimean War, and because of her readiness to overstep the conventional roles women had previously served, Florence Nightingale, “the lady with the lamp,” has risen to a position of honor in the nursing profession. Indeed, in tribute to Florence’s dedication, the lamp icon has become synonymous with nursing. Further indication of respect and reverence for Nightingale’s ideals can be seen in the following adaptation of the physicians’ Hippocratic Oath, the nurses’ Nightingale Pledge, first recited in Detroit in 1893:

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly:
To pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully;
I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug;
I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling;
With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

Since its original recitation, this oath has been revised, and even omitted from nurses’ graduation ceremonies; however, Florence Nightingale’s passion for service cannot be forgotten. Nor can Arlene Russell’s 35 years of exemplary and dedicated service as a nurse, nurse anesthetist, and volunteer at Erie’s Saint Vincent Hospital.

Inspirations

Asked what led to her career in nursing, Arlene, a two-year resident of St. Mary’s Asbury Ridge, immediately recalls the influence of Mrs. Agnes Mabie, her grade school nurse. Arlene shares how honored she felt to assist Mrs. Mabie upon her visits to the classroom: under the watchful eye of the school nurse, Arlene even helped to distribute pills among her peers! Fortified with this lasting inspiration, upon graduation from high school, Arlene entered Saint Vincent School of Nursing.

Upon completing her student nursing requirements, Arlene would find inspiration once again and receive advice which would impact her life and that of many future patients at Saint Vincent Hospital. Upon Arlene’s graduation, Sr. Mary Albert, S.S.J., encouraged her to continue studies and to become a nurse anesthetist. Since no schools in the local area offered this opportunity, Arlene applied and enrolled in a program at Columbia University in New York City. Upon completing this arduous two-year curriculum, Arlene then returned to Erie’s Saint Vincent Hospital where she and Sr. Mary Albert served as the sole nurse anesthetists. For many years, other than the doctors, Sr. Mary Albert and Arlene were the only members of the hospital staff qualified to intubate a patient’s intravenous tube. Arlene performed her duties with skill and extraordinary dedication: throughout her entire career as a nurse anesthetist, on the evening before an individual’s surgery – whether weekday or weekend – Arlene visited her patient to explain the procedure and to prepare him or her for the next day’s surgical procedure. While such a visit was never recognized nor established as an element of hospital protocol, it was always part of Arlene’s protocol, an effort she viewed as necessary preparation for her patient’s well-being.

Family and Faith

During this time, Arlene met and married the love of her life, George Russell; to this day, she glows when recalling their shared journey as husband and wife. Throughout their marriage, they raised three children, Susan, Christopher, and Timothy. George worked in sales, and Arlene continued her full-time career as a nurse and nurse anesthetist while their family grew. Central to their lives were faith and the principles that they love God and each other. The children attended Blessed Sacrament School; George and Arlene were well-known as steadfast, active, and long-time volunteers in the parish – helping out until they turned 80! Even though George didn’t convert to Catholicism until he turned 50, he served the parish more than half his life as a scout leader and later, as an usher.

With humility and sustained by faith, Arlene has faced insurmountable crises in her professional life. She was, for example, the only nurse on duty when a young man admitted to the hospital was too frozen for her to insert a life-sustaining IV. In another instance, she and hospital staff faced the horrific responsibility of coping with – and helping a family – whose child had committed suicide on Christmas day. Only buoyed by faith could Arlene find courage to endure such times of hopelessness and grief.

Times of Change…Times of Courage

After retirement, Arlene continued her career of service as a volunteer at Blessed Sacrament, at Saint Vincent, and in the community, where she administered flu shots. Even though she has long been plagued with adult-onset diabetes and its associated neuropathy – pain and numbness in her hands – and from spinal stenosis, a condition in which the spinal column narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves, Arlene continues to be gracious and positive. She epitomizes courage, which she regards simply as “the ability to handle what is given to you and to appreciate what others do.”

It is this very courage that has enabled Arlene to continue to face life-changing and challenging experiences. Eventually, the severity of her spinal stenosis increased, necessitating Arlene’s confinement to a wheelchair. Then, three years ago, although she had been an exemplary patient and followed her physicians’ directives implicitly, as a complication of her diabetes, Arlene developed an ulcer on her leg which required amputation of both legs below the knee. One would regard such surgery a devastating experience, but Arlene holds to the philosophy that we always have a choice in life…and hers has always been to keep smiling!
Two years ago, Arlene moved into St. Mary’s Asbury Ridge, where she enjoys visiting with friends and staff and takes time out for reading and watching one of her favorite television series, Law and Order. During her first year at St. Mary’s, George, who continued to live in the couple’s home, pampered his wife, enjoying the opportunity to mend and wash clothes at home, even though the staff would have gladly taken on these obligations. As George was a regular visitor, the couple developed many close friendships with other residents in the St. Mary’s community, bonds that were strengthened when George was able to join Arlene as a resident a year ago.

Throughout this period, the couple was always supported by their children who had matured and found their own places in this world: Susan, who followed her mom’s footsteps, married and works as a nurse in Erie. She, in fact, continues to be a regular visitor to St. Mary’s, three to four times each week. Christopher chose a career in physical therapy, and lives with his wife and children in Arizona; and Timothy, who also became a physical therapist, settled in Atlanta with his wife and children.
Happily reunited with her husband at St. Mary’s, Arlene and George basked in the kindheartedness of the staff and residents. Despite her confinement to a wheelchair, Arlene has always been known for her infectious smile, enduring faith, and impeccable style. Then, Timothy was diagnosed with oral cancer. Once more, Arlene’s strength was tested, and once more her courage exemplified…in Timothy’s response to his disease, recognized as incurable in 2008.

Timothy, who had been hospitalized in Arizona, insisted that he wanted to go home. Even though he was unable to walk more than a few steps unassisted, he dressed himself, called a cab, left the hospital, rode home, and trudged up the porch steps to find money for the cabby’s fare. Courageous and determined like his mother, Timothy was able to spend his last days at a hospice, supported by family and friends; unfortunately, because of her ill health, Arlene was not able to attend her son’s funeral, but she still acknowledges his spirit with a twinkle in her eyes, observing that she has no idea where Tim acquired such determination.

2009 has brought Arlene yet another challenge, for in a matter of weeks, George changed from being a supportive and outgoing spouse to becoming an individual with deteriorating memory and inability to function independently. The transformation occurred so suddenly and unexpectedly, in fact, that it was impossible for anyone to prepare for the devastating change. Now, George lives in a separate care facility at St. Mary’s. Arlene is grateful that he is nearby and so well cared-for: together she and Susan visit George every other day. He refers to Arlene as “My precious one,” assuring Arlene that he knows her, even if he is unable to verbalize her name.

Susan recognizes that her mother, who devotedly supported and cared for so many, never wanted to be dependent on anyone…yet acknowledges that Arlene now finds herself in that position. Still, when Arlene smiles, she lights up her world at St. Mary’s and engages all those she meets. She gets outside each day and enjoys visits as well as photo collages of friends and family in her St. Mary’s home. She is thankful that George is nearby and even kids that she and her husband of more than 64 years make one body – pairing her sharp mind and his healthy body! Recognizing that life can often be unexpectedly painful, she reasons that “this is life, and you just keep going; that’s what you do.” Susan Sampsell, who resembles her mother, hopes that her life can resemble her mom’s, as well. Long-time friend, Sr. Mary Alice Reed states, “Arlene may not be able to stand on her own two feet – but she stands on the courage she so gracefully emanates.” Indeed she does…and thus, Arlene Russell inspires everyone she meets.