UNCW student: 'I want to work with my heroes. I want to feel full circle'

In fall 2020, Kalyn Groncki was starting the next chapter of her life.

A freshman biology major at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, she planned to become a veterinarian.

But what happened around 2 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2020, changed those plans.

Groncki was in her dorm room, struggling to breathe. She called 911, and medics transported her to Novant Health New Hanover Medical Center where she coded on arrival.

“I was getting CPR as they were bringing me into the trauma room, from what I understand,” she said.

Testing at the hospital revealed Groncki had COVID-19. It was early in the pandemic, vaccines were not yet available. Her bout with the virus nearly proved fatal. Doctors placed her on life support and told her family her chances of survival were slim.

Here's another inspiring story: After having her life turned 'upside down,' Wilmington woman finds her calling as a nurse

But thanks to her healthcare team, Groncki beat the odds.

Once she regained consciousness, her mother told her about the respiratory therapists. They kept Groncki alive and updated her family on her progress. At the time, she didn’t know much about these “unsung heroes” or their jobs, but she later learned they were key to her survival.

“Those were the people that ran my life support — my ECMO and my ventilator, as well,” Groncki said.

Isolated from her family due to her diagnosis, she said her doctors, nurses, and therapists helped fill the void as she recovered. She was released from the hospital in early November.

A few weeks later, her mother was flipping through UNCW Magazine and saw an article about the new respiratory therapy program that would kick off the following fall.

“She was like, ‘Kalyn, these are the people that saved your life. This is cool. What a coincidence,’” Groncki said. “We just saw how important they are.”

Groncki tore out the article and taped it to her wall for inspiration.

More inspirational stories: Wilmington man describes himself as a 'walking and talking miracle' after stroke recovery

“I was like, this is what I want to do,” she said. “I want to work with my heroes. I want to feel full circle.”

She had to wait until the fall before her junior year to apply but she set her course and was admitted to the program.

Groncki didn’t get the opportunity to meet her respiratory therapists until she started clinicals. But once she did, the experience was “absolutely incredible,” and she bonded with them.

“One of them identifies as my ‘work mom,’ and the other is my ‘work brother,’” she said.

Groncki excelled, earning the program’s leadership award and earning the honor of being named the 2024 Outstanding Graduate.

After graduation, Groncki landed a job back where her journey began: Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Some questioned her decision to stay in Wilmington and work in a place that could hold bad memories. But Groncki doesn’t see it that way.

“What a lot of people don’t understand is that I have my own little family there, too,” she said. “Those are the people that kept me safe, and I know that if I ever needed anything, they’d be there.”

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: COVID-19 helped UNCW student find her career path