Thread by @NatsforDocs

I have a beautiful friend in ICU in NY.

I urge all frontline workers to please refer to the people who have been intubated as 'the person with/who is...'
rather than 'the Covid' 'the Intubated' 'the patient who's not going to make it'.

I understand why this happens... 1/

Depersonalisation is a necessary coping skill while managing internal dilemmas, fear, external pressures, inadequate health system, discomfort wearing PPE for long periods and constant exposure to patients with deteriorating health due to COVID19.

It's a nightmare.

2/

When this is over and you finally have space to reflect and process all that happened, please honour the lives of every person you were privileged to care for during their most vulnerable and end stages of life.

Please honour yourself & what was asked of you as healers.

3/

Right now, you still have the opportunity to feel hopeful that the patient who is intubated will recover and walk out of the hospital.

This is what my friend's family would want from you as you care for them because they can't be there to hold that space for him.

4/

This pandemic is forcing us to slow down and take notice of the little things that are massive for someone else. It's forcing all the feelings we've suppressed through busyness, overachieving and distractions to surface & pour out of us to restore our humanness.

5/

I share your yearning for healing.

So please, look your patients in the eye. Allow connection. This is the foundation of healing.

Don't let stats extinguish hope. Every person is unique & we don't know the potential they have inside to surprise us.

Let's try to find out.

6/

I'll end this prayerful thread with this beautiful story from a physician about his 100 year old patient who survived the Holocaust.

We heal through our connection with others too.

May you all be protected, safe and supported. I'm eternally grateful for you all.

end/