Thank You to All of Our Health Care Providers: They Are Our Heroes

Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the greatest tragedies in human history.  At the time that I am writing this, more than 18 million people have been infected in the US with more than 323,000 deaths. All of us have endured so much including isolation, financial stressors, loneliness, home schooling of our children, unemployment, and deaths within our families. However, we are now at a moment in time where there is light and the end of the pandemic tunnel with two vaccines in circulation and possibly more to come.

However, I would like to thank all our health care workers for their courage and ability to stay in the fight when all else is bleak. During this war, you have not given up. Your endless hours of sacrifice to care for the sickest of patients will forever be remembered by family members. They will remember their loved one’s final moments and they will remember all of you. As of Sept 2020, more than 1700 health care workers have lost their lives due to COVID-19. ¹  Each of these heroes should forever be remembered for their unselfish caring of others, knowing they were in harms way each and every day.

I would propose that these heroes be remembered in a special place. A monument to be dedicated to the best of humanity. The heroes of the COVID-19 war. During these most challenging times you have showed us all that is good and what it means to be a hero. However, if I asked a living war hero, “do you consider yourself a hero?” They would respond and say, “No, I am not a hero, I did what I was supposed to do. I did my job to the best of my ability and I hope it was enough.”

Michael J. Cawley, PharmD, RRT, CPFT, FCCM, has more than 25 years of experience practicing in the areas of medical, surgical, trauma, and burn intensive care as both a critical care clinical pharmacist and registered respiratory therapist.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Population Health Learning Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

Reference

1. Fierce Healthcare. More than 1,700 healthcare workers have died from COVID-19, nurses’ union says.  https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/report-how-many-u-s-healthcare-workers-have-died-from-covid-19-contracted-job. Accessed December 18, 2020.