“One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.” ― Shannon L. Alder
My heart goes out to the patients in Hospitals, Hospice, Skilled Nursing Facilities or Assisted Living Facilities who are feeling isolated and discouraged because their family isn’t allowed to be with them due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I am deeply thankful for the courageous healthcare heroes that provide the element of personal interaction and companionship that is so vital to the welfare of these patients. I have spoken to many family members that have not even been able to speak to their loved one by phone, so the few precious moments that a healthcare hero spends with them sometimes represents the only interaction that they have.
I have been blessed to work with healthcare teams who understand the importance of providing this much needed interaction. I have witnessed the courage of doctors, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and maintenance staff who bravely don their PPE to provide an intervention of healing, and comforting presence. I wish that I could tell every Courageous Healthcare Hero how much they are appreciated, how valuable they are, and personally thank them. Your interaction with these patients, during this time, in spite of this pandemic is an irreplaceable benefit. The interaction may not always be what we would like for it to be due to the clumsiness of the PPE and the restrictive protocols of keeping your patients safe, but YOU are there, and that is invaluable.
In the process of providing support for a family at the loss of a loved one, I was standing at the head of the casket during the memorial service. As one of the family members passed by I said to them, "I wish I had the right words to say. I wish could say something to ease your suffering." They took my hand and replied, "You were there... that's the best thing you could have said. Your presence spoke volumes to us."
Thank you to the thousands of courageous healthcare heroes who are 'there' every day.
Thanks for all you do!
God bless you and keep you safe!
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