I just got my People Magazine in the mail. There’s an article in there hailing nurses and doctors as heroes. It’s funny, because I don’t feel like a hero. This is what we everytime we go to work. The stakes are just higher now.
Nothing has changed. We still do our best with less, take care of our patients as we would want someone to care for our parents or grandparents. We hold their hands while they cry, walk them through their treatments, do our best to get a smile or a laugh. During the days they are in the hospital, now though, we are the only lifeline they have. No visitors.
It’s a big responsibility on a normal day, now we realize the pressure has increased. It breaks my heart sometimes to have a patient and have them ask, “Can so and so come visit?” And I have to tell them no. And their face falls and they nod, knowing it’s for the best, but still hurting.
A long time ago, I realized I loved medicine. I first thought I wanted to be a doctor, until I was about 20 and my mom said, “hey, why don’t you try nursing, instead?” I am forever grateful to my mom, so grateful that I took that first step. Nothing (apart from being a mother and a wife to an awesome husband) fulfills me more. I truly believe this is God’s purpose for me and it both humbles and amazes me everyday I can serve His people this way.
I’ve seen a lot. Death, illness (both small and big), emotional highs and lows in my patients… Those men and women serving beside me, doctors, nurses, CNAs, respiratory therapists, on down to radiology, I appreciate you all so much for what you bring to your patients and what you bring to the team.
We WILL beat this. Someday, we’ll look back and pray it never happens again. But please, for the safety of yourself, your family, your neighbors, US healthcare workers, stay home and stay safe. No one is trying to tell you what to do, or how to live your life. We’re trying to control the spread of this terribe COVID-19 and protect the vulnerable from death.
Let that sink in. If you go out, and you’re infected and you don’t know… You could potentionally infect EVERYONE you come into contact with. Your 90 year-old neighbor? He doesn’t have the reserves to fight this, especially if he has illnesses of his own. YOU could KILL him. I know it’s not intentional, but when you don’t listen to ‘stay-at-home’ orders, you are being SELFISH and risking just that.
I don’t like being cruel. I care for people for a living, it’s what I do. But I’m not mincing words here, people. This isn’t some virus you can shrug off like the common cold. Isn’t the devastation and destruction around the world enough to convince you? Don’t wait until it’s too late, until it touches you personally.
Be safe, be smart and pray, because the world needs a whole lot of God right now.
