I recognize that I’m premature in writing a reflective post
about the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, but my first impression of the accompanying photograph
by GO Nackamura in Houston, Texas is that it’s truly iconic. This symbolic image of Doctor Joseph Varon
and his ICU Covid patient at United Memorial Medical Center captures the unspeakable
toll on all humanity during this crisis.
And our frontline medical workers are also succumbing to the virus
contracted by the very people they are trying to save. Thanksgiving Day 2020 was Dr.Varon’s 252nd consecutive work day without a break. He
noted that nurses were crying in the middle of the day because more patients
were being admitted than there were nurses to care for them.
Nurse Carol Williams posted a powerful message on Facebook
after an exhausting shift at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, IL. Her photo and the words in her post were also
very compelling including these:
“Below is me after spending 5 hours inside a Covid positive ICU room working to save a patient. In this moment, I felt defeated because I already knew what the outcome would be even though it hadn't happened yet. The inability to save a patient despite doing everything you can is mentally exhausting. Now imagine doing that on repeat for 8 months and counting.”
Nurse Williams concluded that “We need to come together as a country, NOW.”
Yes, we’re all dealing with
Covid fatigue. Yes, we’re all missing
literal face time with family and friends.
Yes, we’re all weary of staying at home.
Yes, we’re all longing for the freedom that Americans normally enjoy. Yes, we’re all just a little bit spoiled by
instant gratification. And yes, we’re
all in this together because our frontline healthcare workers deserve our
support and prayers for a while longer.