Everyday Heros

Makes Masks

Mitzi is not only a wife and a mother, she is an extremely talented person. When masks started becoming the new normal, she sprung into action and has been very busy. As of today she has made hundreds of masks to help people in the community and is still going. She is not just making masks for first responders and healthcare workers, she is making them for anyone interested free of charge. We are blessed to have Mitzi in our community!

Police Officer and Physician Assitant

Since meeting David and Kelly more than 3 years ago I have often been amazed at their good heartedness and, truthfully their ability to just enjoy life. Since the start of this Covid - 19 pandemic their life has take a more drastic change than I am sure some can imagine. Working night patrol in a city as large as Houston is challenging for any officer, add into the mix the Covid-19 issues and that brings the job up to a whole new level. Meanwhile as a Physician's Assistant Kelly's job never stopped, it just added a greater risk of becoming ill or bringing it home to her children and mother, for whom she cares for. I think what amazes me the most about these two is they never paused, they didn't stop and think "our job is even more dangerous now", or maybe it's time to take time off. They didn't change, and they didn't let it change them. Kelly and David get up each day, still enjoying life together, laughing, taking care of their family and now, taking even greater care of their community.

Pediatric nurse

She has one of the biggest Hearts I know. She has done mission trips to Dominican Republic and South Africa to treat kids and adults. She just found out she was pregnant right at the beginning of covid-19 and she wasn’t scared to work but eager to help in any way she can with kids. But over all she’s my wife and I’m super proud of the obstacle she overcomes to help any one around her.

PICU nurse

Kellie has been a PICU nurse for multiple years now. Right before the pandemic occurred she was asked to be an interim management position for the children’s hospital at St. Peter’s Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. With that being said with all of the changes with the pandemic she was not only in a new position she had to learn, she also had to work around this pandemic. On top of that the PICU was not very busy, so the PICU nurses were then asked to become adult ICU nurses for this time to help out. Kellie has handled all these changes with grace and as much of a smile on her face as she can. She has been the voice of reason for her fellow nurses being in a management role as well as going in and working bedside in the adult ICU. With this being her normal nursing career, she also has been on multiple mission trips to help other countries in need of health care. She has traveled to the Dominican Republic twice to set up clinics and provide health care to people that rarely see health care throughout the year.
She deserves a trip and some time away when it is safe to travel again!

ICU Nurse

There are so many hero's in my life, but the one that stands out the most right now is my Sister-In-Law, Celina. Celina has been a nurse at LGH for over 20 years. During the COVID-19 epidemic, she has been on the front-lines by taking care of many patients affected with COVID-19. She is an Intermediate Intensive Care Nurse and cared for many sick who were left alone in the hospital due to no visitors allowed. She took care of patients who lived, and she had a few that did not make it. She always treated each patient as if they were her own family, ensuring they got to connect with loved ones. She is a single mother of four boys who she always puts first, she feared that she would bring something home to one of them. One of her sons has a compromised immune system. She took many precautions to keep them safe.
She also helps take care of my mother who recently had a stroke and needs 24 hour care. After working on the front-lines, she often comes over to my moms and ensures she has everything she needs. Celina also is the only one that gives my mom a shower. She is a wonderful person and cares so much for everyone!

Neonatologist and NICU medical director

Andrew Nordine is a dedicated father and husband, as well as a Neontalogist and NICU medical director at UnityPoint Health St. Luke's Hospital.

Neonatologist Dr. Nordine, his medical team, and all the support staff in St Luke’s NICU are truly dedicated in continuing to deliver the highest quality, family-centered care while protecting the smallest of patients during this pandemic.  COVID-19 has brought some new precautionary steps to the NICU, from screening and limiting visitors to two identified and consistent adult caregivers to all staff wearing masks throughout the day and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for patient care. The unknown is scary; they don’t know everything about the COVID-19 virus and what the effects of it on premature babies will be, but they are using all available evidence to ensure the safety of patients, families, and staff while still providing the very best care.  There is a lot of anxiety with just simply having a baby requiring specialized care in the NICU under any circumstances.  Now in this pandemic, that anxiety is heightened with the worry that if their child catches the virus they won’t be strong enough to fight it off. Reassurance and communication with families is important to Dr. Nordine and that they should feel very safe in the hospital with the extra precautions that have been put in place. 
 
Thank you Dr. Nordine, for your dedication to the smallest of patients each and every day, and especially during these difficult COVID-19 times.  You are a Hero, and we thank you for all you do!
 

Registered Nurse

Taryn is a hardworking young nurse that has been working hard on the frontline. She is a float nurse that floats around units and is currently working on the COVID unit at Wellspan in Chambersburg, treating those affected first hand by this illness every shift.

Air Traffic Controller

Today I honor my Air Traffic Controller, my husband. Yesterday, on Easter, he worked a plane full of PPE headed north. He was able to give them a shortcut on their destination and the pilots aboard were so grateful. So many unseen heroes working behind the scenes, risking their own health to protect all of us. Please friends, I implore you, stay home. If we can do this together for those fighting for us, the faster we can get our lives back, our country back ❤

Police Officer

Kate is not only a wife and a mother to 4 beautiful children, she is also a Police Officer. She has been a Police Officer for 18 years. While NY has been one of the hardest hit areas during this pandemic, it has not stopped Kate from putting herself on the frontlines to protect and serve her community. Thank you Kate for always putting others before your own needs!

PICU Nurse

Alyssa Sieber, a PICU nurse at Dupont Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. Her normal job is to care for the most sick and vulnerable ICU patients from babies up to 18 years of age. But COVID19 has changed all that. The Unit has now been transformed and staff have been trained to care for adults and children. They transformed their ICU and regular rooms to accommodate Covid 19 patients should they be needed. She is being exposed daily but is thankful that they are NOT seeing any cases.

Marketing Consultant for an Assisted Living Facility

Assisted living communities seem to be one of the forgotten industries during this pandemic, yet, they are fighting the same war that some hospitals are seeing. On a daily basis, Ann and the entire staff are there caring for patients and keeping them safe. They have put all of the precautions into place to ensure their residents are cared for. While there haven't been guests or visitations allowed since mid March, the staff is doing their best to keep spirits high. From decorated windows, to a bagpipe performance (outside), they are making sure their residents don't feel lost, lonely, or forgotten.

The staff has strict procedures in place including temperature checks daily, mandatory masks at all times, and no physical contact with the residents. While this is difficult, it is necessary and while they can't hug now, they will make up for it when this is all over. While you can't physically see your loved one, just know that people like Ann are there showing them how much they are loved, all while keeping them safe and protected.

Making Masks

This is Kate Thomas. She is a wife, mom and employee of a large firm. While she does have the privilege to work from home, she saw the need in her community. It started when her sister reached out to her looking for a mask. Her oldest son had always had breathing issues and wanted a mask to make sure he was protected. Kate did some research and found a pattern she liked. She was seeing posts on Social Media from people and felt they were being taking advantage of. At this time she committed to making masks for free from a high-quality material and giving them to anyone who needed them.
Kate still works full time at her regular job during the day and then starts sewing after dinner. She finishes up between 2am and 3am every morning, then starts all over again. Kate has had the opportunity to work with so many great people. Many people have been so generous, donating material and funds so she can keep making masks for as long as they are needed.
To date Kate has made over 700 masks for FREE. Thank you, Kate. People like you make the world a better place.