My wife, the hero

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping the world, there are some places that have been hit hard. New York City is one of those places. As of April 6, 2020, New York City has reported over 65,000 cases, over 15,000 hospitalized and over 2,700 deaths.

With the astronomical numbers in New York still rising, some professionals from the U.S. are travelling to the Big Apple to assist the overloaded hospitals and medical staff. One of those individuals is from Marshall County.

Lydia Oliver is a Registered Nurse and flew to New York City on April 6, 2020. Her husband Darrell said she will be lending her skills to an ICU unit at either Mt. Sinai Hospital or Mineola Hospital in New York City for an eight-week assignment.

Darrell Oliver said he and Lydia met in Lawton, Okla. And married in 2005. They currently reside in Madill. When they married, they became a blended family — his two children and her daughter from previous relationships.

Lydia Oliver has been an RN for over 20 years. Prior to their move to Madill, Lydia worked in a Level One Trauma Center in Compton, Calif. as a Trauma RN/ Critical Care Resource Nurse.

Darrell Oliver said her experience has helped her travel to many places.

“My wife has traveled from coast to coast,” he said.

Other than being an RN and traveling to New York City to assist the hospitals there, Lydia is also an online student to earn a Nurse Practitioner Degree.

Darrell said she will still be doing her online school while working the hectic hours at the New York City hospital.

Darrell said she is a CeeDee Lamb fan, Boomer Sooner all the way, and prays she makes it back to his arms safely. He also said he wanted everybody to know just what type of hero Lydia is.

“I just wanted everyone to know my wife is something special,” Darrell said. “Just praying for my hero to come home.”

He noted with sadness that “this is going to be a long 10 weeks.”