Celebs surprise four kids of ‘hero’ nurse who left Kansas to fight COVID-19 in NY
Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick are among those inspired by Gardner, Kansas, nurse practitioner Stacie Kelly, who volunteered to work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York last week.
Timberlake and Kendrick — stars of the new animated movie “Trolls World Tour” — took time Thursday to speak to Kelly’s family back in Kansas on a Zoom call that aired during NBC’s “Today” show on Friday morning.
Kelly, whom The Star profiled in a story earlier this week, flew to New York last week with best friend Ashley Kush to help assist with one of the global hotspots of the coronavirus pandemic. Kelly did so with the blessing of her husband, Mark, who is with their four children back home: Sullivan, 10, Delaynie, 8, McClain, 6, and Camryn, 4.
Mark Kelly received a call Wednesday from someone with the “Today” show, who said she’d read the story about his wife in The Star and indicated the program might be interested in featuring the family.
“It just all started rolling from there,” he told The Star on Friday.
At 12:45 p.m. the next day, he set up his four children on a video conference with “Today” host Hoda Kotb. Shortly after, Timberlake and Kendrick surprised the kids by appearing on the call as well.
“Look at all those cute faces,” Timberlake said.
The four children were familiar with Timberlake and Kendrick because of their roles with the “Trolls” movies. Four-year-old Camryn even greeted Kendrick with “Hi Poppy” when she first showed up on the computer screen.
“You must be so, so proud of your mom, and we’re really grateful to her,” Kendrick later said. “We’re really grateful to you, Dad, for holding down the fort with those four little angels.”
Timberlake also was touched by the family’s sacrifice to help others.
“She’s my hero, for sure,” Timberlake said of Stacie Kelly. “…Mark, I’ve got one 5-year-old, and it’s hard for me to get any sleep. So you’re my other hero, bro.”
Before the call ended, Timberlake told the children he hoped to meet them in person one day.
Mark Kelly said his kids had different reactions once the call ended. Ten-year-old Sullivan put his hands on his head in shock. Eight-year-old Delaynie started crying while hugging her dad, while 6-year-old McClain told his father he had much more he wanted to say to both Timberlake and Kendrick.
The family also received a “Trolls” care package of toys from the “Today” show Friday morning.
“I love that the kids got some screen time and that they’re going viral,” Mark Kelly said. “That’s really cool and fun, but Stacie deserves this.”
Stacie Kelly and Kush, who signed up for a three-week stint in New York, have taken over leadership positions in recent days. While working 15- to 16-hour shifts, they’ve been placed in charge of the roughly 500 nurses and nurse practitioners who are staying at their hotel, coming together with those people during shift changes while pinpointing complaints and concerns from the front lines.
Then, the two get on New York City buses and head to the hospitals, working with leadership there to try to help make systems run smoother based on the feedback they receive.
Mark Kelly reported that the two believe they’re making a difference. One example came Thursday, as they were greeted at the front door of one hospital by the chief medical officer, CEO and nursing coordinator, who were concerned that the two were there to criticize them.
After sitting down for a meeting, though, the group came to a consensus on some simple changes. Stacie Kelly even received a call later in the day from the location, with a report that nurses’ demeanor had improved since the adjustments took place.
“They’re pushing for change,” Mark Kelly said. “They’re making a huge difference, at least for this group of people in this hotel that are going out to all these different hospitals. They’re effecting change to make the working conditions better.”
So while he admitted it was “cool” to be shouted out by Timberlake — “I’m not doing anything special; I’m just trying to make sure the house doesn’t burn down,” he said with a laugh — he’s more happy that his wife is getting spotlighted for her efforts.
“Good things come back around to people who are always doing good for others,” he said. “And this recognition is awesome for her, but I hope it also sheds light on what all those people up there — all those men and women that have come from across the country to help, and really the ones that are homegrown New Yorkers — that are up there busting their chops to save people and make the conditions better and try to get this thing wrapped up to flatten that curve, so to speak.
“It’s one really cool story amongst all these people that should be recognized for what they’re doing.”
This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 12:03 PM.
