The Humanity Behind the Heroism
The COVID 19 crisis has plunged the world into dark times. No doubt about that. But it’s in the darkest of times that the brightest lights shine, and it is our honor to add an extra glow to those lights.
Nurses, doctors, EMTs, and Paramedics, are not new heroes. They are simply largely unnoticed. They don’t have hundreds of thousands of Followers, or giant mansions, or win Academy awards. They are often the first and last person a patient and a patient’s family will see as the world collapses around them.
In this current, historic pandemic, nurses are right by and sometimes leading the doctors into a battlefield that could claim them as its next casualty. They answered a call to serve when they entered this profession. Now they are being called to an even higher level of service, and they are answering that call with immense selflessness.
We reached out to some nurses who are working through this crisis. As most of us stress and worry about being told to stay home, we wanted to recognize and thank those who can’t wait to go home. We wanted to bring the names and faces of those who will be a major reason this world conquers COVID 19 to those of us who feel trapped at home and may not truly understand the humanity behind the heroism.
We asked the nurses some questions about their lives and the impact COVID 19 is having on them.
Those that managed to find a few quiet moments in the midst of mayhem got back to us, and we are bringing you their stories in a short series of articles.
In this article we are featuring 2 New York Nurses. The first is Orange County New York Nurse Krystle Mabee!
Name: Krystle Mabee
Profession: Nurse Practitioner
Where? Orange County, NY
How long have you been a nurse practitioner ?
I’ve been a NP for 4 years. Prior to that I was an RN in the ER for 8 years. Currently I work for Orange Regional Medical Group in primary care. I just got transferred Urgent Care, to help with patient overflow there. We are now doing telephone appointments versus in office appointments. Our call volume has increased.
Why did you choose this field?
I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field since I was a young girl. I enjoy helping people and keeping them healthy. As a nursing student I saw the bond my preceptors had with their patients and families and knew I wanted to have just that.(A “preceptor” is a doctor or nurse practitioner who trains you clinically during nurse practitioner school.
When did you first become aware of COVID 19?
I first heard of COVID 19 toward the end of January 2020
Lots of people want to support and thank you. Other than staying home, what is one way regular citizens can pitch in to help out and to say Thank you?
Check on your elderly neighbors or anyone immunocompromised you may know. A daily “check in” phone call or grocery drop off goes a long way.
Is there a story or a moment in your career you’d like to share? (not necessarily from COVID19)
During a time like this you’re in “go mode” and often aren’t thinking about yourself. My son recently broke out into a rash which led me to talking with his pediatrician who happened to be my pediatric preceptor. During the call we started talking about COVID and how each of us are preparing/dealing with it. You rarely admit your fears as a healthcare professional in a time of crisis and I was able to be open and honest with her. Even though I’m out of school and practicing independently, Dr Dos Santos was there for me as a preceptor and friend. That inspired me to be there for my colleagues and friends and be that support. In medicine you tend to form bonds with people that become more like family to you.
How has your work responding to COVID 19 impacted your own family?
I am still going into work full time while trying to juggle online learning with my daughter and son. Instead of typical school hours, my children learn from 6:30-9:30 and on weekends. My husband has gotten used to quieting the kids in the other room when I’m home for conference calls and being on call. We will get through it as a family.
What is one message you have for America right now?
Stay home as much as possible, practice social distancing, check in on your friends and family (especially the ones that live alone) and remember to be kind during this difficult time. You never know what someone is going through.
Please share this article with your friends and comment below showing your support for Krystle Mabee and all the other health professionals on the front lines of this crisis.
Michigan Nurse Anne Marie Collier
Name: Anne Marie Collier
Profession: Nurse and Nurse Manager
How long have you been a nurse?
25 years
Where do you work?
Henry Ford West Bloomfield, (Michigan)
And Beaumont Commons at Farmington Hills,( Michigan)
Why did you choose this field?
My aunt is a retired nurse, and she inspired me to follow in her footsteps.
When did you first become aware of COVID 19?
I started hearing about it just like everyone else – when it started breaking in the news. I’m a manager at a nursing facility and at the time, we were more concerned about RSV and influenza because that was beginning to go through our facility.
Lots of people want to support and thank you.
Other than staying home, what is one way regular citizens can pitch in to help out and to say Thank you?
Actually I have friends and neighbors who are helping me out by sewing masks and hair covers for me. We have had families from all over give food to the nurses when we’re working our different shifts because sometimes we’re working so much we don’t have time to prepare anything. This is especially helpful to nurses like me. I’m a single mom and I’m working two jobs.
Is there a story or a moment in your career you’d like to share? (not necessarily from COVID19)
I have a lot of moments but I think the most important one was one time when I was in the ICU. We had a woman who had just delivered and suffered an embolism. Usually these types of embolisms are 95% fatal, and I was the nurse taking care of her for multiple nights in a row. We worked so fast and we noticed things so quickly that not only did she survive, she walked out of the hospital. The most touching moment was that this happened so fast she didn’t even know the sex of a child that she gave birth to. When I brought her out of sedation, I let her know that she had a healthy baby boy. She started to cry knowing that her child was safe.
How has your work responding to COVID 19 impacted your own family?
I’m very lucky that all three boys are older and have been through a lot of different pandemics with me. When I ask them to do stuff around here, they don’t even question or fight me for it they just do it. I think the most important thing also was when I was going to work last night actually all three of them looked at me and said “Make sure you don’t burn yourself out, mom.”
What is one message you have for America right now?
Honestly I know it seems like the government is forcing people to stay home and not do things that they would normally do, but if you had to spend the night with me in the ICU having to take care of three patients all on a ventilator because of this oh, you would be so happy to stay home and help decrease the spread.
Please share this article with your friends and comment below showing your support for Anne Marie Collier and all the other health professionals on the front lines of this crisis.
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