LEWISTON, Maine — In the chaos that followed the deadly night of Oct. 25, 2023, a group of doctors, nurses, and other medical staff at Central Maine Medical Center found themselves in a race against time.
Just 2 miles from the site of Maine's deadliest mass shootings, the hospital treated 14 critically injured victims that night, working tirelessly to save lives.
One year later, the doctor who oversees the Intensive Care Unit at CMMC reflected on the experience that changed him and his team.
Dr. Erway Teng was at home reading to his youngest daughter when his phone began buzzing with messages from colleagues, alerting him to a possible shooting.
“The news of the mass shooting spread throughout the entire [hospital] system very quickly, and there was a significant outpouring of everyone wanting to rush in and help,” Teng recalled.
In less than an hour, CMMC had assembled a large team of trauma surgeons, supported by more than 100 nurses and health care professionals. Within 42 minutes, the victims arrived at the hospital.
By the next morning, with the shooter still at large, the hospital was surrounded by armed guards. Inside, the mood was somber and surreal.
“I recall seeing a lot of people with their heads down, in disbelief. I saw sobbing family members and an incredible group of trauma surgeons,” Teng said, describing his memory of the scene.
Following surgery, many survivors were transferred to the ICU, where Teng and his team supported them through the next phase of their recovery. For the medical staff, it was their duty not only to care for the physical wounds but also to help patients come to terms with the trauma they had endured.
“Some patients, which is very sad, were too scared to leave the ICU, even asking us if there’s a shooter,” Teng said.
As difficult as it was for the victims, the emotional toll also weighed heavily on the hospital staff. In recognition of this, CMMC leaders provided counseling to help staff cope with the intense experience.
“A lot of them were really impacted by the struggles of our patients and families,” Teng said, explaining the unique bond formed with the survivors made the experience more personal than usual.
As patients began to recover and were finally well enough to go home, CMMC staff organized heartfelt send-offs, lining the hospital hallways to cheer for the survivors. For some, this meant thunderous applause. For others, a gentler round of clapping.
“Seeing their kids run up to them gives our team continued hope and joy in doing the job that we do,” Teng said, reflecting on the emotional moments.
Even a year later, the weight of this all still lingers for many staff members.
“I’m doing better,” Teng said.
He shared that he has connected with ICU leaders from other hospitals who have faced similar experiences and said he knows some of his colleagues are still grappling with the trauma.
“People don’t need to say anything for us to know where they are,” Teng said, emphasizing the unspoken understanding among the team.
While the emotional scars remain, Teng believes the tragedy has brought the medical team closer, and their commitment to patient care has not wavered.
