Thread by @gradydoctor

1/
On rounds this week

Her: “You by yourself?”
Me: “Yes. Well. . . yes and no.”
Her: “I’m used to y’all coming in here in a big ol’ pack.”

*laughter*

Me: “Yeah. Usually we do. The rest of the team is outside of the door right now.”

She looked to the door. Then back at me.

2/
Me: “Since your intern doctor saw you earlier and we’re doing the infection precautions for you, we’re trying to spare using more protective gowns and equipment than is necessary, you know?”

Her: *eyebrows raised* Say what now?”

I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet.

3/
Her: *chuckling* “Damn. Y’all worried ‘bout to running out or something?”
Me: *not chuckling*

*silence*

The television was muted. Someone on the local news was talking about #COVID19 being reported in Georgia. We both looked up at the screen without talking.

4/
Me: “It’s a lot going on right now. So mostly our infection control experts are telling us to only use what we absolutely need. You know, so we’ll have stuff for a rainy day.”

*looking at TV*

Her: “Is it a rainy day now?”

5/
Me: “Let’s just say it’s in the forecast. But we both know weather is funny sometimes.”
Her: *shaking her head* “Don’t none of this sound funny to me.”

Touché.

Her: “So tell the truth, Dr. Manning. You got you a stack of them masks stored up at home?”

6/
Me: “Me? No. Not even one.”
Her: “You lyin’! For real?”
Me: “Hand over heart.”
Her: “Well hell. My sister keep calling me trying to see if I could sneak and get her some.”
Me: 😳
Her: “But now I’m gon’ tell her that my own doctor ain’t even got none stashed.”

*laughter*

7/
Her: “You worried?”
Me: *thinking*

I repeated the question.

Me: “Am I worried? Hmmm. I think. . . I think I’m more ‘woke’ than worried.”
Her: *jutting out chin nodding*
Me: “Well. I take that back. I do worry about my elders. And, of course, my parents.”

8/
Her: “Damn. How old is your parents? They ain’t elders yet?”

I laughed out loud when she said that.

Me: “I’m sorry—yes. They’re definitely in that number. But don’t tell them. Especially my very cool mom who dyed her hair purple this year. ”

*laughter*

9/
Her: “So what you tell them?”
Me: “What our experts say. Which is mostly to stay home if they can. Otherwise I tell them the same thing I’m trying to tell myself.”
Her: “Which is?”

I paused. Because I wanted to be responsible.

And honest.

10/
Me: “First, I tell myself don’t panic.”
Her: *listening*
Me: “Go hard at the hand washing. Don’t touch stuff like rails and buttons for no reason. Stay in if you’re sick.” *snapping* “Oooh! And keep your hands off your face!”

I pinned my hands to my sides and stared skyward.

11/
Her: “Seem like the MINUTE you said that I wanted to touch my face! Like bad!”
Me: “Right?!”

*laughter*

Me: “But real talk? I say listen to the experts. And save the masks and protective stuff for the hospitals, patients, and only who needs them. For real.”
Her: *nodding*

12/
Her: “In case of a rainy day.”
Me: “Yeah.”

A map with US cases of #COVID19 was now on showing. The reporter looked somber.

Her: “What you say—‘More woke than worried’, huh?”
Me: “Or maybe . . . more prepared than panicked? How’s that sound?”
Her “I like that, too.”

13/
Her: “So are you one of the #coronavirus experts?”
Me: “No—but I’m down with the experts.”
Her: “And I’m down with YOU so I’m good.”

Fo sho.😂

Here’s the teachback:

Stay calm.
Stay woke.
Stay updated.

And most of all?

Stay HOME if you’re sick. 🤒👉🏽🏡
👊🏽 #listening

14/
I’ve said it before but it bears repeating:

THANK you to the #COVID19 #ID and #publichealth experts who are advising us, leading us, and using their powers for good. You are real, live superheroes.

We are listening. And we are spreading the evidence-based messages. 👊🏽😷🙏🏽