Chicago Bears surprise Good Samaritan nurses

DOWNERS GROVE – A group of Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital nurses were surprised Thursday with a gift and a message of gratitude from the Chicago Bears.

Staley Da Bear delivered gift bags and a personalized video message from Bears players to more than 30 nurses and nursing assistants who cared for a couple battling COVID-19 together at Good Samaritan in November.

Team members on the unit (Unit 52) were inspired by the couple’s love and their family’s appreciation to those at the hospital who made sure the couple – married for 76 years – could be side-by-side in the hospital during their final moments. The group was also presented with a framed, signed Khalil Mack jersey, which will hang in their unit.

“We’re here today to tell you how inspired we are by all of you,” Cole Kmet told the health care workers in the video message. Khalil Mack, David Montgomery and Roquan Smith also offered words of encouragement. Mack, number 52, thanked the team for “representing 52 the way that you do.”

“We’re so honored to be recognized by the Bears for the compassion this team shows patients,” said Susan Okuno-Jones, chief nursing officer at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. “It’s been so great to see an outpouring of community support since the start of the pandemic. We’ll continue to fight for you.”