Supported in health, empowered at work
Lynn’s journey toward healing and career path converges at SIU Medicine
Few know Springfield’s health care landscape like Michelle Lynn.
As a nurse for more than 30 years, she’s worked at both hospitals, and spent nearly two decades at Springfield Clinic. Michelle even spent childhood summer vacations building core memories with her brother at St. John’s School of Nursing since her mother taught there.
“When people say they get lost in St. John's. I'm like, I remember when it was just a square. If you kept taking right turns, you'd end up in the same spot,” Lynn said. “I guess you could say that I’ve been around the block.”
When the Sherman native joined SIU Medicine in 2019 as principal administrator for OBGYN and ENT, she brought a promise in addition to her wealth of knowledge and experience: “I have always said during interviews, I never call in sick.”
That was put to the test just two weeks into her job at SIU Medicine.
Running on empty – physically and mentally
“I'm like, well, it's kind of like when kids start school,” Lynn said. “It's new germs, no big deal.”
She went to her primary care provider, got antibiotics and pushed through. Two weeks later, another sinus infection struck.
It wasn’t just that Lynn’s health was declining. She felt guilty about starting a new job and then immediately developing health issues. As a leader, Lynn knows that issues can arise out of your control. But to see that sentiment reflected at SIU provided some comfort.
Michelle Lynn, Executive Director of Clinical Operations at SIU Medicine
Still, she couldn’t unwind. Usually, Lynn would go for a run five times a week to clear her head. There wasn’t ever a set path, she just enjoyed being outdoors, getting exercise, seeing what floral arrangements the neighbors put together. That joy dissolved as her lungs continued to struggle.
“I was short of breath going up and down stairs,” Lynn said. “It was a huge lifestyle change for me. I mean, I could not do what I needed to do to maintain my sanity, so to speak.”
Eventually, her doctor suspected nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), a rare lung infection. But confirming it required a sputum culture. By then, it was March 2020: COVID had consumed all available resources.
Collaboration and commitment
A year later, Lynn switched her health care to SIU Medicine and finally had her bronchoscopy, lighting up the infection. During a telehealth visit, Dr. Vidya Sundareshan, chief of the Infectious Diseases Program, mentioned SIU just launched a multidisciplinary NTM clinic. Lynn became a patient and everything clicked during a collaborative visit.
“That was a game changer for me,” Lynn said.
“It was a different kind of appointment than I'd ever had. Pulmonary came in first. Then the resident or the fellow came in and did an evaluation and an assessment. They all came in separately and then everybody came in together.
“And as a group, I could ask this doctor this question and everybody talked to each other. It was a wow moment, it really was.”
That kind of specialty care and collaboration is what Lynn needed, and it realized her ideal version of health care: “It's offered here at SIU, and it made all the difference of the world.”
Back to breathing and living freely
Although the team identified her infection, it kept returning. Lynn was referred to an NTM specialty clinic in Denver and spent two weeks undergoing tests. She discovered she has silent GERD, which causes acid from her stomach to creep into her lungs when she sleeps. Finally, the root issue was found, and the best news was it was treatable.
Lynn never felt so much joy walking 2 mph on the treadmill. For years, she persevered at SIU Medicine through exhaustion and tests. Several months after the revelation in solving her illness, she added elation to triumph. SIU Medicine recognized Lynn’s talents and was promoted to executive director of clinical operations.
Recently, she took vacation time to return to Denver – this time to enjoy the mountains instead of an exam room.
“Even walking around out there takes your breath away, but I was able to go things that I wasn't able to the year before,” she said.
Her continuum of care carries on with Dr. Omar Abdulfattah. Lynn hopes her symptoms are now behind her.
“Life's pretty good right now.”
