Twenty-five years ago an even snowier scene blanketed Boston. New England, shut down by a blizzard. That meant plenty of work for police and emergency crews, especially those, who worked at area hospitals. At Mass General, the call to action came quickly and many put their lives and comfort on the line to save others.
When the Blizzard of ‘78 hit, staff at mass general sprang into action. For nurse Judith Newell, that meant trudging seven miles through the snow to reach the hospital. She didn't think twice about it.
Judith Newell, Mass. General Hospital
"There is not a soul at MGH that won't do what ever is necessary to make sure the patients are cared for"
And that they did despite the obstacles, passing through tunnels of snow.
The National Guard acted as an ambulance service, bringing in patients. When doctors couldn't make it in because of the snow, they found other ways to help.
Judith Newell
"There were physicians that would make some phone calls, actually worked fairly well"
Inside the hospital, staff rallied. Most were stuck here for a week. Some slept on the floor, ate by candlelight, did what they could to care for patients.
Judith Newell
"Did have some people walk up twelve flights of stairs with trays for our patients to be able to eat."
One of those patients, Brian Keezer, who at the time was a 12-year-old boy getting his appendix taken out.
Brian Keezer, Patient, Mass. General Hosp.
"Every time I see the scar, I think of the snowstorm… I remember being in the solarium, it had windows, all you could see was white."
Ronald Green, an ER nurse at the time, couldn't see out, there were no windows in the emergency department, but he knew it was bad and he wouldn't be going home for a week.
Ronald Green, Mass. General Hospital
"The day the storm hit, the patients that would normally go upstairs couldn't get upstairs because the people upstairs that would be discharged couldn't get home."
And then the power would go out.
Ronald Green
"We used to just plug things into the wall and we took it for granted that the electricity would be there."
One change since the blizzard is these red outlets that keep emergency equipment running.
Judith Newell
"You couldn't see the hospital, so snowy."
Judith still can't believe all the snow, but she does believe in the camaraderie and sense of purpose among staff here in '78 that still carries on today.
The staff at Mass General wouldn't have made it through as well as they did without the help of residents on Beacon Hill. They came to the rescue, walking down the hill to bring food and help to the hospital.
