In the first week of April, Ona Onyia and her mother, Uchenna Onyia-Murphy, traveled 1200 miles from Arkansas to Elmhurst Hospital in New York “the epicenter of the epicenter” of COVID 19. They saw how overwhelmed the hospital staff was and wanted to help. They also wanted to learn as much as they could in case things got bad back home.
They each work 12 hour shifts, Onyia overnight, and her mother during the day, sometimes for six days straight.
“It has been mentally and physically exhausting, but rewarding in so many ways,” Onyia says. “…..I feel like I can work anywhere after this.”
In spite of the hardships, they both extended their contracts for another six weeks.
Thank you to all nurses, doctors, and medical care workers who go where they are needed most, even in their own hometowns or their own homes.
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When I saw today’s prompt was, “hospital,” I thought, I don’t want to write about that. I don’t particularly like hospitals. I don’t mind visiting people there, but the last time I stayed overnight was when my daughter was born 23 years ago, and they kept waking me and sticking me with things, though they were nice about it. And the grapes had mold on them! But I really should let that go. Okay. I forgive whoever was working in the hospital kitchen and didn’t notice the mold on the grapes 23 years ago. I will not mention it again.
Maybe I don’t like hospitals because I had a series of hospital overnights as a young child with pneumonia. I remember feeling alone and having trouble sleeping until a nurse gave me a back rub. Thank you, sweet nurse, wherever you are!
I am thankful that I haven’t had to stay overnight in the hospital in a long time. I should count my blessings and knock on wood. And I’m thankful for all the people who work in hospitals! All those long hours don’t sound very healthy to me. Thank you, nurses and doctors, orderlies, maintenance, receptionists, and laundry and food service people… and the billing department, who can forget them? They all have tough jobs – listening to complaints and cleaning up messes. Thank you.
The funny thing is that, while I don’t like being in a hospital, I’m drawn to TV shows that take place in hospitals. They’re educational, right? And yes, exciting. It’s too bad the hospital show I used to love turned into too much of a soap opera. But there are always more hospital shows on TV. My all time favorite hospital show was MASH – a poignant drama with ample comic relief. My dad stayed at a MASH unit after being wounded in Korea, and he told me the show was pretty realistic.
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And here’s the comic relief:
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I hope that making my health a priority will keep me out of real life hospitals. I know there are things beyond our control, but hopefully, if I walk more and eat healthier, meaning avoiding sugar, I’ll increase my chances of staying well.
Speaking of priorities, my January newsletter gives 6 tips on honoring priorities, especially creative ones. If you’d like to receive my monthly newsletter, feel free to click on the sidebar link under the category cloud.
Be well and thank someone who works in a hospital.
Thank you to Charlene Bullard of FaithtoRaiseNate.com for today’s prompt. It was a good one. Charlene’s blog is inspiring, comforting and well worth a visit!
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