To the Medical Professionals On the Front Lines Fighting the Coronavirus

Dearest Medical Professional Community,

I’m surprised you’re even seeing this right now because frankly, I wouldn’t blame you for completely avoiding social media. There’s a whole lot of ignorance mixed with a whole lot of opinion, a whole lot of frustrating apathy and a whole lot of unnecessary panic. And most of it comes from people who have no idea. Not like you do.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the new viral strain in the coronavirus family that affects the lungs and respiratory system, a pandemic is happening in our world. While most of us are feeling the ripple effects in one way or another, you are closer to the point of impact than anyone.

We’ve been ordered to escape from it.

You’ve been ordered to attack it.

We wonder how we are going to care for our kids while we get to work from home.

You wonder who is going to care for your kids while you’re at your required shift.

We hear about people dying from this.

You watch them die despite doing everything possible to save them.

We are staying home or planning visits with healthy friends and family to change up the routine.

You are avoiding visits with healthy friends and family to keep them safe.

So much is uncertain right now, but one thing that is certain is that while most of us have been sidelined, you’ve been on the front lines.

We are inconvenienced by it.

You are immersed in it.

Out of all the people I’ve seen complain about how difficult this has been for them to deal with, not one of them has been a medical professional.

I’m proud of you. I’m in awe of you. I’m thankful for you.

And yet, I am not surprised by you.

For months I lived amongst you as my baby girl waited on life support for a heart transplant. For months you cared for her, but you also cared for me. For months you were the only face-to-face interaction I had most days. In those months, you became family.

And on the day she took her last breath in my arms, you were there, many on your day off.

Your dedication, your care, your professionalism and your grace are not unnoticed, and they also are not a shock. I see you. I still see you. We see you. There isn’t a lot we can do to help you right now while you’re helping everyone else. But we can pray for you.

We can check on you. We can cook for you. We can send you funny videos of celebrities falling down. We can call you and talk to you about anything other than this. What else can we do? We are here while you are there.

And we are thankful.

Concerned about coronavirus? Stay safe using the tips from these articles:

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• How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
• What You Should Know About Social Distancing During COVID-19
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