ICU’s Kaci Svornik, RN, is Making Spirits Bright through Holiday Art

The holidays can feel heavy when a patient or loved one is in the hospital, especially in the Intensive Care Unit.

But Kaci Svornik, RN, has found a way to lighten that load and bring the season’s warmth to patients, families, and the ICU Team alike.

With a heart as big as her talent, Kaci decorates the windows of every patient door (30 in all!) with hand-painted holiday scenes. Snowflakes, reindeer, snowmen, colorful candy canes and Santa’s smile…her hand-painted designs are little gifts of joy.

And the finishing touch? A beautiful Christmas tree painted on the large window at the end of the hallway, creating a festive focal point that makes the ICU feel less clinical and a lot more comforting.

Kaci does it all on her own time – before or after a long shift and even on the weekends – to spread holiday cheer among our sickest patients and their loved ones.

It all began five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, when visitors were limited, and patients needed hope more than ever.

“Every year I’ve been going with the same characters, but this year I had a whiteboard and asked our staff to write down ideas with what they wanted to see,” she said. “And I always paint a big tree on the window at the end of the hallway. Everyone usually likes that one a lot.”

What started as a simple gesture has grown into a beloved annual tradition that everyone looks forward to—patients, visitors, and the entire ICU care team. Her mission is simple: to remind people that even in the most challenging of moments, the warmth of the holiday season can still shine through.