Even though the nurses and hospital management returned to the bargaining table on Tuesday, some patients say they are feeling the impact of the nurses strike, with some having their surgeries and procedures rescheduled.

What You Need To Know

Hollis Horta is 11 years old but was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital when he was just 4 years old

He has over 30 diagnoses and requires continued treatment. His mom, Sarah Horta, said the nurses at the hospital have been vital to his care over the years, and she supports their strike

Hollis had a procedure scheduled for this week, postponed due to the strike

You’d never know it by looking at him, but 11-year-old Hollis Horta has a rare brain tumor.  

At just 4 years old, he had surgery to remove a portion of that tumor and his pituitary gland at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.

“He was in the ICU for a couple [of] weeks and it was very scary,” Sarah Horta, Hollis’ mom, said.

His mother said he was a survivor. Almost seven years later, Hollis is fighting more than 30 medical issues-related to his tumor, and they require continued treatment.

But last week his mom found out a procedure, vital to his care, had to be rescheduled due to the strike.

“I was shocked when they called because I didn’t think certain things so minor like this would get pushed back, but it showed me, OK, we’re really in a crisis,” Sarah said.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital wouldn’t comment on Hollis or his procedure because a spokesperson said they don’t talk about individual patients.

Sarah said she wants to keep the nature of the procedure private, but added that putting this off is difficult.

“The fact that we’re a little delayed on it is worrisome for me because it’s to do with his endocrine function so that’s been a big devastation for us,” she said.

Hollis had to be hospitalized overnight for testing last week, and Sarah noticed the difference in the building.

“While we were there, it was like a ghost town, and we’re not used to that. We’re used to the nurses in a cheerful spirit coming and checking on you,” she said.

Since Hollis’ tumor was discovered in 2019, the bond that the family has grown with the nurses has proven to be priceless. The family said the nurses are constantly showing up with more than medical care.

“They filled his whole room up with teddy bears. They went to the gift shop. They got him happy meals,” Sarah said. “During that year it was really difficult for us. We didn’t have no Christmas spirit. The nurses surprised us and got us a Christmas tree.”

Hollis said he remembers too.

“I also remember how one of the nurses for radiation carried me because I was tired,” Hollis said.

And that’s why, despite the delay of her son’s procedure, she supports the nurses on the picket lines.

“I wouldn’t have been able to make it through ICU, PICU, all these trials and tribulations. We’ve been going through it for six and a half years we wouldn’t have been able to survive mentally, emotionally the trials we’ve been going through if It wasn’t for the support of the nurses and doctors so I feel like management needs to take a great look at why New York Presbyterian is great, they’re only great because of their doctors and nurses,” Sarah said.

She said she’d be on the picket line with them if not for her son’s illness.

Hollis said the nurses have been an inspiration.

“I just want to become what I want to,” he said. “I want to become a cop and save people like how nurses do.”

Horta said if the procedure gets rescheduled again she’ll talk to her son’s doctor about what can be done. She added that she just hopes management and the nurses can come to an agreement soon so Hollis can go back to Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and see the same familiar faces he’s used to.

In a statement, a spokesperson for NewYork-Presbyterian wrote: “While the NYSNA strike is designed to create disruption, all our hospitals and emergency rooms are open, accepting new patients and continue to provide high-quality care. We are caring for patients with needs ranging from routine to delivering babies to highly complex surgeries and transplants. Even during this time of seasonally elevated emergency room visits, our operations are running smoothly. Thanks to the careful pre-planning and continued dedication of our teams, including hiring qualified temporary travel nurses for as long as needed, our operational capacity is strong.”