Sep 27, 2021 | Grace
Nursing, a career I love. Coming to work is enjoyable and I get to help mend the sick, to be a shoulder to lean on, I can lend an ear that listens and give hands that are willing to help. I never knew how much my life would change in 2020. I remember reading about COVID-19 in the news and really didn’t pay much attention to it initially. That is until the first case hit Canada, Ontario and then it hit home in Windsor. Once it hit Windsor I knew it was just a matter of time until it would reach the hospitals. That day came; panic set in but I knew I was in this career for a reason and I knew my patients came first. I didn’t show my panic and instead I kept it inside. I knew I was going to do whatever I had to do to be a helping hand. In a matter of a few weeks this horrible virus was spreading like wildfire through our most vulnerable; in and out of long term care homes and retirement homes. This is when the field hospital became a home for many of these vulnerable individuals and that’s when I got the e-mail about 1 North. They were opening up a unit for these individuals that were waiting to go back to their homes within long term care. Of course without hesitation I said yes. I remember the first day slowly admitting these individuals into our care and I remember thinking to myself, how scared they must be. I also remember thinking we are their glimmer of hope and they are one step closer to going home. They survived COVID-19, these individuals conquered this horrible sickness. The last week the unit was open was bittersweet; for one month we got to help these individuals smile, laugh and get excited again. Within one week we slowly emptied the unit sending each individual back home, some were nervous and scared but most were very excited as they had not been home in a month or more. What an amazing feeling; it was such a privilege being able to give a helping hand and step up in such a scary time. I never thought I would live through a pandemic, but years from now I will be able to share how amazing our hospital is; how amazing it was to work with an amazing group of coworkers stepping up with helping hands. One positive note COVID-19 taught our hospital was that we are able to step up and become one when our community needs us.