And the Crowd Goes Wild

It was an emotional, jubilant moment for frontline medical personnel and others who gathered in the lobby of Mercy Medical Center’s Bunting Center to cheer for recovering patient Michael B. Green.

A Federal Hill resident, Green, 63, spent seven weeks at Mercy — including in its Intensive Care Unit and being intubated several times — to be treated for COVID-19.

Green, who was admitted to Mercy on Mar. 18 with acute respiratory distress symptoms, is now undergoing physical therapy and rehabilitation.

At the May 6 gathering for Green’s discharge, Dr. David N. Maine, executive vice president of the 146-year-old Catholic health care facility, presented him with an official Mercy ceremonial cross.

Green’s wife, Gail Goldner Green, a lay leader of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, spoke briefly to the crowd, thanking the downtown Baltimore hospital for its care for her husband and their family.

“He doesn’t really remember the last seven weeks, but I do and my family does,” she said, noting that doctors and nurses — despite their chronic fatigue and long, stressful hours at the hospital — called her family to give daily updates on Green’s condition.

“They always made time to take care of us at home,” she said, noting that the family could not visit Green because of social distancing policies. “It’s overwhelming and amazing. … We love you and thank you and will never forget what you did for my husband and my family.”

In addition, a letter recognizing him for his efforts was presented to Green by the Baltimore Ravens community relations department.