26 JUNE 2020 | TheJournalNJ.com
HOLMDEL SPORTS DOCTOR
SHARES HEARTBREAKING YET
UPLIFTING PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE
Dr. Denise Wunderler
understands the pressure
of being a physician, and
the stress that comes with surviving
the death of a child. She understands
that more now than ever.
Wunderler is a board-certified
sports medicine physician, Fellow of the American Osteopathic Academy of
Sports Medicine, USA Volleyball/FIVB international team physician, founder
Vienna 4 SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood)
community volunteer, loving wife and mother of three.
emergency medicine physician and Army war hero, are
parents to a 10- and 7-year-old here on Earth, and their
youngest Vienna, who passed away unexpectedly in 2017
of SUDC at the age of 2.
“Unfortunately, my husband cannot be close to us since
he is on the frontlines,” Wunderler said.
Savino self-quarantined for a week mid-March to
protect his family since he knew he could have been
exposed to the virus while working. Sure enough, his chest began to feel tight,
and a fever set in. Wunderler said her husband stayed home sick for 12 days,
not wanting to take away resources from other sick individuals, but as his
breathing became more labored, he was admitted to Jersey Shore University
Medical Center. Wunderler’s stress level soared, however, since coping with
Vienna’s unexpected death, she has been able to channel the pressure and
stress and take care of business.
Because New Jersey hospitals currently do not allow visitors, Wunderler
was unable to see her husband while he received treatment that week. Luckily,
Savino was not placed on a ventilator, so he was able to send text message
updates to his family. He also made time to document his recovery on Facebook.
Displaying brutal honesty and a refreshing sense of humor, Savino posted
day-by-day recaps of symptoms he experienced, medications he tried, progress
he made and even amusing details of how he “got winded eating a hospital
turkey sandwich.”
Wunderler said she admired her husband’s ability to stay positive and
bring smiles to the faces of those worried about him. Well-wishers were
rooting for him from as far away as Pakistan and Australia.
“Many are very inspired by him, and he has received several messages
from supporters that he gives them hope,” she said. “Everyone in
the Northeast especially needs that right now. Mike makes people
laugh and cry at the same time with his humorous yet serious posts.”
Savino was ultimately discharged from the hospital on April 11.
“First stop was to get some Jersey Shore pizza,” Wunderler
of neighbors and friends who lined the street – honking horns,
holding signs, cheering. Since we weren’t exactly sure when he
would get discharged, his welcome home was organized last
minute by my text to a few friends when I was leaving to get
him. Within one hour, 25 cars were at our house. Some traveled
BY SHANNA O’MARA
30 minutes and still made it. It was really amazing how quickly everyone
mobilized to get here in time!”
month when he came home from the hospital, but when her husband returned
to work, close contact was restricted again.
“When there is a frontlines physician in the family, the family self-isolation is
different than when there is not,” she said.
schoolwork, cooking, games and Zoom calls with friends. Wunderler said she
and the kids have been kept at a safe distance from Dad,
and they are all forced to wear masks indoors to lessen the
chance of spreading any germs or a different strain of the
virus. Wunderler has been working with the kids on their
academics, teaching them about patience, utilizing their
help around the house and instilling the idea that people
all do better when they work as a team. She also teaches
them about how to make the most of a less-than-desirable
situation, and that complaining about it only distracts from
our focus.
“’When else during our lifetime will we be forced to stay
at home?’” she asks the kids. “’Let’s make the best of it.’”
about the pandemic.
“I am connecting with doctors in other locations across the country,
discussing by phone/text/email about COVID-19 treatments,” she said. “It
seems there’s more collaboration these days among healthcare workers
discussing what is working in their area and what is not.”
She added, “While others were helping me with treatment advice/options,
etc. when Mike was really sick and in the hospital, now I am able to help others,
from other states connect with their hospitalized family member in New Jersey.”
Wunderler points this out because so many loved ones are left to rely on
doctor updates rather than talking directly to the patient. With visitation
prohibited and communication limited for those on ventilators, many devoted
physicians have taken the time to contact family members via Facetime or Zoom
so that they may talk to – or even say goodbye – to their ill kin.
“I have incredible respect and admiration for my husband and all the
frontline workers taking care of patients during this pandemic,” Wunderler said.
It goes back to the innate reasons we all went into medicine – to take care of
others, educate and do our best for the human race.”
/TheJournalNJ.com