21 months ago, I had no idea what to expect. I entered the battlefield, ready to fight, respond, create plans of action. No template. Just adrenaline, moral obligation, duty. /1
18 months ago, past the first wave, naively thinking that the "fall might be slightly busier."/2
13 months ago, I couldn't believe the death and devastation I was deep into. A record number of death certificates signed amongst our medicine COVID units in one day. And then breaking that record the next day. /3
12 months ago, heavily advocating for frontlines to get vaccinated, putting all of my faith into the vaccine.. surely this was it. We would be over this hurdle in 6 months. /4
8 months ago, realizing how much vaccine misinformation there was (is), seeing droves of young patients with severe COVID during the third wave. A window into the abuse healthcare workers would face in the months to come from anti-vax sentiment. /5
5 months ago, continuing on the heaviest advocacy of the pandemic with @PopAlberta, pushing back against government and public health timelines when they declared "Best Summer Ever."/6
4 months ago, being in the fourth wave, a year after what I thought was the worst of it... Only to see death and devastation, with a side of vitriol and hatred aimed directly at us. /7
3 months ago, discussing critical care capacity and triage protocols. The moral injury around how many people were triaged out of their procedures due to ICU overcapacity, while sending my ineligible kids to school, hoping for the best. /8
1 month ago, receiving racist taunts, items thrown at me, all while trying to care for COVID patients. While trying to dig so deep for the last little drops of empathy I could muster. /9
Today. Reconciling that this disease and its effect on our healthcare system are not going anywhere, and I magically need to find more physicians (who aren't burnt out) to help keep the battle going. /10
Realizing that my 2022-2023 vision for my hospital division will still need to plan for COVID, plan to pivot on a dime, and plan for more burn out. /11
As we head into our second COVID holiday season, I am not naive to think this will be our last. Those of us deep in this battle are weary and tired. We desparately want to hand over the reins./12
And so, I hope that our leaders, both in government and healthcare, can take 21 months of failed plans and lessons, and guide us safely to the other side of this pandemic. /fin.
#ableg #COVID19AB
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