From left to right: SGT Walter Braddock; SPC Sam Wiley; MAJ Robert Geddens; SPC Rayni Newman; MSG James Crosland; SFC Blake Rhodes; April Sheppard, RN and 1LT Valerie Stiling.

McLeod Regional Medical Center Nurse April Sheppard and National Guard Medics SFC Blake Rhodes, SGT Walter Braddock, SPC Sam Wiley and SPC Rayni Newman, were recently presented Challenge Coins from United States Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant Kevin Thomas, South Carolina National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader for their tremendous efforts caring for COVID-19 patients in the Bamlanivimab Infusion Treatment area.

This award is a great honor and only given by senior leaders in the South Carolina National Guard to recognize a significant accomplishment.

April, a Share-the-Care nurse, has diligently cared for patients in the Bamlanivimab Infusion Treatment area since its establishment in November 2020, modeling the core values of McLeod every day.

This incredible group of National Guard Medics arrived in January and primarily serve patients in the Bamlanivimab Infusion Treatment area while also caring for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. With the help of these medics, capacity for infusion treatments at McLeod Regional Medical Center increased from 16 patients to 24 patients per day.

Bamlanivimab treatment is also available at McLeod Health Clarendon in Manning, McLeod Health Seacoast in Little River, McLeod Health Carolina Forest in Myrtle Beach and McLeod Health Loris.

To date, McLeod Health has treated more than 1,000 patients.

For more information on Bamlanivimab infusion therapy, please visit www.mcleodcovid.org.