Thread by @virenkaul

Spoke to three close friends today. Just checking in on them since they are working at hotspots.

Here are direct quotes from those very people working >16 hours a day battling #COVID19

“I am suffering panic attacks.”

Think about that
Let me share with you why

“Coworkers are falling sick left & right. Every night as I lie in bed away from my fiancé, I think about falling sick, getting intubated & dying”

“What will my parents do”

“I can’t get over the fear in my fathers voice. I tell him I have #PPE, fact is he knows, and I know too.”

“People keep saying we are the brave front line workers. We see videos of cheering from balconies. But deafening silence as we wait for testing to return 3 days later on our sick patient.

We ask, and the answer is the same, it’s ramping up. So is our risk. #COVID19

“I don’t even know what to focus on when talking to families: Give them an update? Explain why a certain game changing Rx didn’t work for their love one? Console them on our lack of connection over the brassy phone/video line?”

#COVID19

“I am handling it. I’ll be ok. That’s what I tell my resident. But I’m terrified. They need to be protected. So I go in and give care. But they know as teachers we are at risk too, so they offer to examine the next one. We are rationing human contact!” #COVID19

“What’s stood out for me is how much of a team we are: reminding each other not to touch our noses, communicating constantly, reading and researching well into the night, dispelling misinformation everyday. Showing up strong but reminded of our humanity.”

“If something happens to me, Viren, will you coordinate my care with the icu team? You have the number for xyz, right? Please check in if you can?”

“If you speak to my brother, don’t tell him how much I’m working. Just say it’s the usual shift”

#COVID19

“When this is over, we won’t be celebrating. We will immediately be rebuilding the gap in care for everyone this pandemic has created. But when THAT is caught up, we got to have a Corona” *chuckle*

At least there was a feeble attempt at #COVID19 humor

Consider it an honor to stay in touch with friends & offer support during this pandemic. But the one sentence that hit me terribly:

“You know, it’s brutal, I wish this wasn’t happening, but this is what I trained for, and I would become a nurse all over again”

#COVID19

The reason I’m sharing this:
- We are all feeling this fear, worry, concern for our patients, families and ourselves
- it’s completely expected
- reach out to for help, we understand, don’t bottle it up
- all of your kindness means the world to a HCW right now

#COVID19

Think am also sharing this cuz am worried too. Mostly about Mrs. K, as she naps to go in to work tonight. At least the pups have her back! Good thing she’s not on the Tweeter. Or I’d be fired for posting this picture. But oh well, we all need puppy pics in the time of #COVID19