He had a 1 % chance of surviving. What was supposed to be an unforgettable ski trip with a group of friends in Italy, ended in tragedy. When Gregg Garfield, who considered himself an athletic person, returned home from Europe, he needed hospitalization. The 54-year-old had COVID-19.
Back in February, only three days into the trip, some of the 12 other skiers started getting sick. By the end of the trip, everyone was ill. One of Gregg’s fellow skiers remembered that four people of the group needed hospitalization, and three of them were on ventilators. Italy is, to this day, one of the countries that were hit hardest by the novel coronavirus––with more than 30,000 confirmed deaths.
When Gregg arrived at the “Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center” in Burbank, about 10 miles north of Los Angeles, he was greeted by a medical team dressed in full hazmat gear. Gregg was known as “Patient Zero,” because he was the first coronavirus patient at the hospital, with a dwindling low chance of surviving. Not even 48 hours after entering the emergency room, Gregg was intubated, and on a ventilator for a total of 31 days––on maximum oxygen. On top of not being able to breathe, his kidney started failing and his blood pressure plummeted, changing the skin color of his fingers. His sister Stephanie reported that four different parts of his lungs collapsed, and he was unable to walk, noting that he was the picture of health before he became sick. She added: “This isn’t just some little flu or cold, this is the real thing.” It didn’t look good for Gregg––not good at all. But he managed to beat the terrible odds, while doctors tried everything to keep him alive. Garfield remembered in a recent TV interview: “The disease kicked off, and my immune system just ate me alive.” The 54-year-old had no idea that the coronavirus would put him on the edge.
But with the help of a true miracle, medical experts, and physical therapists, Gregg Garfield slowly regained his mobility. He was able to leave the medical center 64 days after first entering with a deadly virus. Protected by his sunglasses and a face mask, he was pushed towards freedom. On the day of his release, it felt as if the Beatles celebrated their reunion when the medical staff applauded their “Patient Zero” as he was wheeled out by his family on a picture-perfect L.A. Friday. Now, his struggle continues as he is learning how to breathe and walk again. His heroic story exemplifies how quickly the highly contagious virus acts and attacks even the healthiest people.
And who’s there to help? The medical staff, trying everything they possibly can—every single day. One of them is Sandra. The 29-year-old nurse remembers seeing Gregg leave the “Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center”: “It was a super proud moment for us healthcare workers. We cheered him on as he finally was discharged and exited the hospital. So many news crews were there! He was our very first COVID patient and was really sick for a long time. Even though I didn’t personally treat him, I remember when he came to my ER on March 5. Coronavirus was so new to Los Angeles at that time, and boy, we’ve learned so much since then.”
Sandra always wanted to be a nurse, just to “do something that made a little bit more of a difference.” She’s been working at the Emergency Room in Burbank for three years, after moving to Los Angeles from Akron, Ohio. Now, Sandra lives in a small two-bedroom apartment in Studio City, which she shares with one roommate. “I’ve been a nurse for nine years, but I’m also a freelance portrait photographer, and I play the keytaron the side,” the 29-year-old single woman says, smiling from ear to ear in her pink scrubs, with matching pink hair. When asked about her multiple talents and the workload she currently has, Sandra shrugged with her shoulders: “I strive to go beyond. I do not believe in the bare minimum! I’m really lucky that I’ve found several things in my life that I’m passionate about.” After spending thousands of hours at work, Sandra callsher ER coworkers, especially Jessica and Jeffrey, her second family. With them, she even uses some rare spare time at the hospital to record TikTok videos. In some of the 30-second clips, they’re group dancing; in others, they’re throwing themselves on hospital beds in silly poses, or rhythmically sanitizing their hands to hip hop beats. “We need to stay mentally happy as well,” Sandra laughs in an infectious manner. And even on her days off, she likes to surround herself with some of her dearest colleagues. WithDr. Steve, she recently enjoyed a hiking trip (or “girl talk,” as Sandra calls it) in Bell Canyon. “We painted our nails and talked about boys. A much-needed break,” she says with a big smile.
Sandra’s 12-hour-shift starts at 7 a.m. at the “Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center.” On her way to work, she always sees the big Walt Disney Studios water tower. What would usually be “just another day at work,” is now a constant fight against death, a fight against COVID-19. “Every morning before my shift, I pray it will be a good day,” she says. In the narrow locker room, she usually takes a minute to herself to assort her thoughts. “Every day I go into work, I don’t know if it will be the day I get the virus or not,” she mentions with concern. It is a grim sentiment shared by thousands of healthcare workers on the frontline of a pandemic. In China’s Wuhan, where the virus originated, nearly 1 in 5 healthcare workers who caught the virus ended up in critical condition.
While putting on her scrubs and face mask, Sandra always tries to reassure herself: “Like other nurses, doctors, and frontline workers, I don’t have time to be afraid.” Usually, when Sandra starts her workday, she looks around and scans her coworkers. She recognizes their helplessness, while they are still trying to act as if they are in control. “I know a lot of healthcare workers feel overwhelmed and feel like they’re barely making a difference in regards to the large number of people who are sick right now. And I know first hand how scary it is to be on the front lines. Every day you are like ‘go, go, go‘ because these patients are very sick. It makes you feel helpless when you've exhausted all of the typical life-saving measures that just don't seem to be as effective,” Sandra says while admitting that her eyes sometimes water up behind the plastic face shield that is supposed to protect her from the virus.
On the floor where Sandra is regularly holding patients’ hands, almost everyone is battling the deadly virus. And by far not all of them are people above the age of 70. Sandra also cares for people in their 30s, 40s, and 50’s suffering from COVID-19. A shocking number, but Sandra mentions a “positive” side-effect of the pandemic: “Normally we have a full waiting room every day but since the quarantine was in place, people have been avoiding the ER out of fear of getting COVID, or out of an understanding that healthcare workers need to focus on the ones who are truly sick.” Even though Sandra is protected by her N-95 mask, gloves, a hairnet, and a gown, she is in constant contact with highly contagious patients. At 2 p.m., seven hours after her shift started, a 45-year-old man needed to be intubated. “The acuity of the patients we are seeing now is higher. People are definitely getting sicker and we are intubating and using ventilators more frequently,” Sandra explains. It is now part of her daily routine to toss and change her clothing, clean her shields, goggles, and PAPRs [powered air-purifying respirators], every time she leaves a patients’ room. “Changing your protective gear is more time consuming than you realize until you have a full team of patients in isolation,” Sandra admits and acknowledges that she recently used one of the last N-95 masks she could find. Especially in a time of crisis, it seems as if the hospital is lacking everything that Sandra is in desperate need to stay healthy.
After ending her shift way past sunset, just like every night in the past weeks, her face is covered with red marks from wearing her mask all day. But that’s by far not the biggest concern Sandra has. She whispers, her voice filled with exhaustion: “I was told by our cleaning crew that the hospital had run out of hand sanitizer.”
Unlike Gregg Garfield, Broadway star Nick Cordero continues to be battling COVID-19 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The 41-year-old has been within the intensive care unit for more than 60 days after arriving at the emergency room in late March. He was on a ventilator just two days later. Since then, he has suffered an infection that caused his heart to stop, he needed resuscitation, had two miniature strokes, went on dialysis, had his right leg amputated, an MRI to further investigate brain damage, several bronchial sweeps to clear out his lungs, an infection causing a septic shock, a fungus in his lungs, holes in his lungs, a tracheostomy, blood clots, low blood count, and a temporary pacemaker to assist his heart. Cordero had no preexisting conditions before getting sick—and to the present day, it is still unknown how he got the coronavirus. While it is described as a respiratory virus, it's clear that it’s affecting some people throughout their bodies—causing damage from the eyeballs to the toes. So, even though the most obvious symptoms are classic respiratory symptoms such as pneumonia, COVID-19 also seems to attack some organs directly, which can, in turn, cause irregular blood clotting. “I heard stories about unusual strokes in younger patients. It's very confusing. But luckily, I haven't experienced that yet in one of my shifts,“ Sandra says with some relief in her voice. She adds: “Blood thinners can actually help control the unusual blood clotting.“ One last symptom linked to COVID-19 that is puzzling many medical experts is currently known as “COVID toes.“ Several patients have been reporting red or purple swelling of their toes. But Sandra explains that “this is actually not that serious. It's believed to be related to small clogs in the blood vessels of the toes which creates this type of skin reaction.“
Horrifying stories like Nick Cordero’s or Gregg Garfield‘s leave most patients with a lot of anxiety and stress when they arrive at an emergency room. Of course, those feelings also come from uncertainty and oftentimes misinformation that is spreading like wildfire on social media. There's still so much unknown about the virus that already took way too many lives. And now, even new forms of the coronavirus emerge, like a severe inflammatory syndrome that has been identified in about 200 school-age children in the United States and Europe—and even killed several. In New York State alone, three deaths were reported. The condition, known as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, has put a hold on the widespread confidence that children were primarily left unhurt from the pandemic. But instead of targeting lungs as COVID-19 does, it causes inflammation throughout the body and can even cripple the heart. In relation to that, according to Sandra, people with issues unrelated to the coronavirus are afraid to come to the ER for help. “People aren't coming for things like strokes or heart attacks, or issues that they should be coming to the ER for because everyone is so terrified of getting the virus.“
For weeks, as COVID-19 patients are still rushing to hospitals in California, medical workers on the front lines lack basic protective gear like masks and gowns. For Celia Marcos, a 61-year-old nurse who worked at the “Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center” since 2004, the lack of protection resulted in her death on April 17. Celia chose not to try to get a proper mask before entering the room to treat a COVID-19 patient who stopped breathing—because she wanted to save another human’s life. It led to her unnecessary death, “just because of a one-dollar N-95 mask,“ Sandra says. “I just never thought there would be a day where we would have to worry about a lack of PPE[personal protective equipment].“ This personal protective equipment is typically worn to minimize exposure to hazards like COVID-19. Three months into the pandemic, the problem is still unsolved. To this day, half a dozen doctors and nurses died in the U.S. “It's a risk. But it's what I signed up to do,“ Sandra declares, almost sounding aloof.
The same problem is evident with coronavirus tests. On April 30, Mayor Eric Garcetti allowed anyone with or without symptoms, including healthcare workers and emergency personnel, to be tested for the novel coronavirus. But most L.A. residents still didn't get the chance as the website to book a test quickly got flooded with requests. Sandra explains how the testing process works at her hospital: “If a patient comes in with COVID-like symptoms, we do one of two things: If they have relatively decent vitals, are self-ambulatory, and not super sick, we place them in our negative pressure tents outside the hospital. Out there, they will be seen by a nurse and a physician assistant, all dressed in PPE.“ One day, Sandra was one of the nurses in a testing tent outside—on a cold and rainy day back in March. She remembers how it felt like: “We set up a triage outside to keep germs contained and constantly sanitized. It was very cold and rainy and I couldn't feel my fingers, or even chart well because they were so frozen. But I did molecular karate kicks to the virus for most of my shift!“
For patients with more severe symptoms, the procedure is slightly different. “If they come in with COVID-like symptoms and are extremely short of breath, have other underlying medical complaints such as chest pain or abdominal pain, and are more senior in age, then we place them in airborne isolation in a negative pressure room in the ER,“ Sandra says in a serious tone. She further explains: “Every single patient who enters the ER gets a surgical mask, regardless of what their complaint is. Every single staff member wears a mask as well.“
Sandra and her colleagues live in constant fear of getting the virus. On top of that, they have to be careful about tossing their protective equipment correctly. “It’s definitely busier in the ER because of the amount of time it takes for donning and doffing [terms the medical staff uses to properly put on and take off PPE to prevent contamination]. For every single COVID or COVID-possible patient, we have to don and doff our PPE. Every single time you step out of that patient’s room, you’re cleaning your shields, goggles, and PAPRs. You’re getting rid of the old gown and getting new ones, along with new gloves and face masks.“
With the high number of patients, it's only logical that hospitals are experiencing shortages of lifesaving equipment. “We are low on PPE supplies, especially N-95‘s, which are also known as respirators. Those are the masks that can really protect us,“ Sandra explains calmly. “My ER also just started designating a ‘safety officer‘ per shift, which is a nurse that is trained to make sure everyone is donning and doffing correctly. I think that’s especially important because not everyone knows how to do it correctly, or is properly trained in it.“
After not feeling well for several weeks, Theresa, a 55-year-old writer, wanted to get tested. She first called her primary care physician to get an appointment for a coronavirus test. The next day, her visit to a walk-in clinic didn't take longer than 10 minutes. As she arrived, a sign on the front door of the facility said: “According to city ordinance, all persons on premises must wear a face-covering correctly at all times. Additionally: If you are not a patient, parent of a patient, or necessary care-taker, we ask that you wait outside. Thank you for your cooperation.“ After Theresa entered, she was met by a nurse who handed her a mask and forms that asked three questions: whether she had a fever over 100.4 in the last four days; if she had a cough or cold-like symptoms that included a runny, stuffy nose, sore throat or difficulty breathing in the last four days; and if she had been in close contact or traveled outside of the United States or Canada in the last 30 days or been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Also, the nurse checked her temperature and oxygen rate upon arrival.
After checking in with a receptionist, Theresa was asked to return to her car to wait until the doctor was ready. “I was also given a rapid flu test, whose results came back within 15 minutes. It was negative,” she said. Then, the doctor called her after reviewing her paperwork to discuss any possible symptoms. The coast was clear. The medical team then proceeded to administer a COVID-19 test—all in the safety of her car. Theresa remembered, her face cringing: “It felt as if someone was poking my brain. I wasn't prepared for how much the nasal swab would hurt! I thought it would just be a little Q-Tip. I was completely caught off guard.“ A swab was inserted deep in through her left nostril, which is meant to reach the cells from where your nose and throat meet. “The test itself was quick, just a few seconds maybe. But it definitely was a highly uncomfortable and my eyes teared up,“ Theresa added. She was told that her test results would be available in the next 48 hours. “The hardest part was to keep my mind busy while waiting,“ the 55-year-old said. With regards to the costs, Theresa noted: “This particular test was fully covered by insurance. But without insurance, out of pocket, the test would've been $170!“ When her physician called her after two days, she took a deep breath and sighed when he told her: “Your results came back negative.“
Since the pandemic started spreading, more and more celebrities try to help in the form of donations. The outpouring support also reaches Sandra and her colleagues at the “Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center.” Despite dealing with sickness and death, Sandra oftentimes enters her break room with a smile, as she recalls: “Celebrities and community members alike have been graciously buying us lunch or coffee. We recently got donuts sent from Universal Studios Hollywood and more than 100 meals from Carl’s Jr. Steven Spielberg bought my ER staff Indian food one day, and then pulled pork sandwiches the next. Jennifer Anniston gave a huge Mediterranean meal as well this past week. Chef José Andrés has also been giving us lunch via his non-profit organization ‘World Central Kitchen.’ Sometimes we just show up to work and get pleasantly surprised with amazing food later in the day. It is all so much appreciated!” Sandra also acknowledges: “Halsey just ordered and donated 100,000 masks to my hospital. We’ve actually started using them the other day at work.” Sheadds with a deep sense of gratitude: “It means a lot. Celebrity or not, everyone’s support makes our day go by so much better. A simple gesture of kindness and support goes a long way for us.”
He had a 1 % chance of surviving. What was supposed to be an unforgettable ski trip with a group of friends in Italy, ended in tragedy. When Gregg Garfield, who considered himself an athletic person, returned home from Europe, he needed hospitalization. The 54-year-old had COVID-19.
Back in February, only three days into the trip, some of the 12 other skiers started getting sick. By the end of the trip, everyone was ill. One of Gregg’s fellow skiers remembered that four people of the group needed hospitalization, and three of them were on ventilators. Italy is, to this day, one of the countries that were hit hardest by the novel coronavirus––with more than 30,000 confirmed deaths.
When Gregg arrived at the “Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center” in Burbank, about 10 miles north of Los Angeles, he was greeted by a medical team dressed in full hazmat gear. Gregg was known as “Patient Zero,” because he was the first coronavirus patient at the hospital, with a dwindling low chance of surviving. Not even 48 hours after entering the emergency room, Gregg was intubated, and on a ventilator for a total of 31 days––on maximum oxygen. On top of not being able to breathe, his kidney started failing and his blood pressure plummeted, changing the skin color of his fingers. His sister Stephanie reported that four different parts of his lungs collapsed, and he was unable to walk, noting that he was the picture of health before he became sick. She added: “This isn’t just some little flu or cold, this is the real thing.” It didn’t look good for Gregg––not good at all. But he managed to beat the terrible odds, while doctors tried everything to keep him alive. Garfield remembered in a recent TV interview: “The disease kicked off, and my immune system just ate me alive.” The 54-year-old had no idea that the coronavirus would put him on the edge.
But with the help of a true miracle, medical experts, and physical therapists, Gregg Garfield slowly regained his mobility. He was able to leave the medical center 64 days after first entering with a deadly virus. Protected by his sunglasses and a face mask, he was pushed towards freedom. On the day of his release, it felt as if the Beatles celebrated their reunion when the medical staff applauded their “Patient Zero” as he was wheeled out by his family on a picture-perfect L.A. Friday. Now, his struggle continues as he is learning how to breathe and walk again. His heroic story exemplifies how quickly the highly contagious virus acts and attacks even the healthiest people.
And who’s there to help? The medical staff, trying everything they possibly can—every single day. One of them is Sandra. The 29-year-old nurse remembers seeing Gregg leave the “Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center”: “It was a super proud moment for us healthcare workers. We cheered him on as he finally was discharged and exited the hospital. So many news crews were there! He was our very first COVID patient and was really sick for a long time. Even though I didn’t personally treat him, I remember when he came to my ER on March 5. Coronavirus was so new to Los Angeles at that time, and boy, we’ve learned so much since then.”
Sandra always wanted to be a nurse, just to “do something that made a little bit more of a difference.” She’s been working at the Emergency Room in Burbank for three years, after moving to Los Angeles from Akron, Ohio. Now, Sandra lives in a small two-bedroom apartment in Studio City, which she shares with one roommate. “I’ve been a nurse for nine years, but I’m also a freelance portrait photographer, and I play the keytaron the side,” the 29-year-old single woman says, smiling from ear to ear in her pink scrubs, with matching pink hair. When asked about her multiple talents and the workload she currently has, Sandra shrugged with her shoulders: “I strive to go beyond. I do not believe in the bare minimum! I’m really lucky that I’ve found several things in my life that I’m passionate about.” After spending thousands of hours at work, Sandra callsher ER coworkers, especially Jessica and Jeffrey, her second family. With them, she even uses some rare spare time at the hospital to record TikTok videos. In some of the 30-second clips, they’re group dancing; in others, they’re throwing themselves on hospital beds in silly poses, or rhythmically sanitizing their hands to hip hop beats. “We need to stay mentally happy as well,” Sandra laughs in an infectious manner. And even on her days off, she likes to surround herself with some of her dearest colleagues. WithDr. Steve, she recently enjoyed a hiking trip (or “girl talk,” as Sandra calls it) in Bell Canyon. “We painted our nails and talked about boys. A much-needed break,” she says with a big smile.
Sandra’s 12-hour-shift starts at 7 a.m. at the “Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center.” On her way to work, she always sees the big Walt Disney Studios water tower. What would usually be “just another day at work,” is now a constant fight against death, a fight against COVID-19. “Every morning before my shift, I pray it will be a good day,” she says. In the narrow locker room, she usually takes a minute to herself to assort her thoughts. “Every day I go into work, I don’t know if it will be the day I get the virus or not,” she mentions with concern. It is a grim sentiment shared by thousands of healthcare workers on the frontline of a pandemic. In China’s Wuhan, where the virus originated, nearly 1 in 5 healthcare workers who caught the virus ended up in critical condition.
While putting on her scrubs and face mask, Sandra always tries to reassure herself: “Like other nurses, doctors, and frontline workers, I don’t have time to be afraid.” Usually, when Sandra starts her workday, she looks around and scans her coworkers. She recognizes their helplessness, while they are still trying to act as if they are in control. “I know a lot of healthcare workers feel overwhelmed and feel like they’re barely making a difference in regards to the large number of people who are sick right now. And I know first hand how scary it is to be on the front lines. Every day you are like ‘go, go, go‘ because these patients are very sick. It makes you feel helpless when you've exhausted all of the typical life-saving measures that just don't seem to be as effective,” Sandra says while admitting that her eyes sometimes water up behind the plastic face shield that is supposed to protect her from the virus.
On the floor where Sandra is regularly holding patients’ hands, almost everyone is battling the deadly virus. And by far not all of them are people above the age of 70. Sandra also cares for people in their 30s, 40s, and 50’s suffering from COVID-19. A shocking number, but Sandra mentions a “positive” side-effect of the pandemic: “Normally we have a full waiting room every day but since the quarantine was in place, people have been avoiding the ER out of fear of getting COVID, or out of an understanding that healthcare workers need to focus on the ones who are truly sick.” Even though Sandra is protected by her N-95 mask, gloves, a hairnet, and a gown, she is in constant contact with highly contagious patients. At 2 p.m., seven hours after her shift started, a 45-year-old man needed to be intubated. “The acuity of the patients we are seeing now is higher. People are definitely getting sicker and we are intubating and using ventilators more frequently,” Sandra explains. It is now part of her daily routine to toss and change her clothing, clean her shields, goggles, and PAPRs [powered air-purifying respirators], every time she leaves a patients’ room. “Changing your protective gear is more time consuming than you realize until you have a full team of patients in isolation,” Sandra admits and acknowledges that she recently used one of the last N-95 masks she could find. Especially in a time of crisis, it seems as if the hospital is lacking everything that Sandra is in desperate need to stay healthy.
After ending her shift way past sunset, just like every night in the past weeks, her face is covered with red marks from wearing her mask all day. But that’s by far not the biggest concern Sandra has. She whispers, her voice filled with exhaustion: “I was told by our cleaning crew that the hospital had run out of hand sanitizer.”
Unlike Gregg Garfield, Broadway star Nick Cordero continues to be battling COVID-19 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The 41-year-old has been within the intensive care unit for more than 60 days after arriving at the emergency room in late March. He was on a ventilator just two days later. Since then, he has suffered an infection that caused his heart to stop, he needed resuscitation, had two miniature strokes, went on dialysis, had his right leg amputated, an MRI to further investigate brain damage, several bronchial sweeps to clear out his lungs, an infection causing a septic shock, a fungus in his lungs, holes in his lungs, a tracheostomy, blood clots, low blood count, and a temporary pacemaker to assist his heart. Cordero had no preexisting conditions before getting sick—and to the present day, it is still unknown how he got the coronavirus. While it is described as a respiratory virus, it's clear that it’s affecting some people throughout their bodies—causing damage from the eyeballs to the toes. So, even though the most obvious symptoms are classic respiratory symptoms such as pneumonia, COVID-19 also seems to attack some organs directly, which can, in turn, cause irregular blood clotting. “I heard stories about unusual strokes in younger patients. It's very confusing. But luckily, I haven't experienced that yet in one of my shifts,“ Sandra says with some relief in her voice. She adds: “Blood thinners can actually help control the unusual blood clotting.“ One last symptom linked to COVID-19 that is puzzling many medical experts is currently known as “COVID toes.“ Several patients have been reporting red or purple swelling of their toes. But Sandra explains that “this is actually not that serious. It's believed to be related to small clogs in the blood vessels of the toes which creates this type of skin reaction.“
Horrifying stories like Nick Cordero’s or Gregg Garfield‘s leave most patients with a lot of anxiety and stress when they arrive at an emergency room. Of course, those feelings also come from uncertainty and oftentimes misinformation that is spreading like wildfire on social media. There's still so much unknown about the virus that already took way too many lives. And now, even new forms of the coronavirus emerge, like a severe inflammatory syndrome that has been identified in about 200 school-age children in the United States and Europe—and even killed several. In New York State alone, three deaths were reported. The condition, known as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, has put a hold on the widespread confidence that children were primarily left unhurt from the pandemic. But instead of targeting lungs as COVID-19 does, it causes inflammation throughout the body and can even cripple the heart. In relation to that, according to Sandra, people with issues unrelated to the coronavirus are afraid to come to the ER for help. “People aren't coming for things like strokes or heart attacks, or issues that they should be coming to the ER for because everyone is so terrified of getting the virus.“
For weeks, as COVID-19 patients are still rushing to hospitals in California, medical workers on the front lines lack basic protective gear like masks and gowns. For Celia Marcos, a 61-year-old nurse who worked at the “Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center” since 2004, the lack of protection resulted in her death on April 17. Celia chose not to try to get a proper mask before entering the room to treat a COVID-19 patient who stopped breathing—because she wanted to save another human’s life. It led to her unnecessary death, “just because of a one-dollar N-95 mask,“ Sandra says. “I just never thought there would be a day where we would have to worry about a lack of PPE[personal protective equipment].“ This personal protective equipment is typically worn to minimize exposure to hazards like COVID-19. Three months into the pandemic, the problem is still unsolved. To this day, half a dozen doctors and nurses died in the U.S. “It's a risk. But it's what I signed up to do,“ Sandra declares, almost sounding aloof.
The same problem is evident with coronavirus tests. On April 30, Mayor Eric Garcetti allowed anyone with or without symptoms, including healthcare workers and emergency personnel, to be tested for the novel coronavirus. But most L.A. residents still didn't get the chance as the website to book a test quickly got flooded with requests. Sandra explains how the testing process works at her hospital: “If a patient comes in with COVID-like symptoms, we do one of two things: If they have relatively decent vitals, are self-ambulatory, and not super sick, we place them in our negative pressure tents outside the hospital. Out there, they will be seen by a nurse and a physician assistant, all dressed in PPE.“ One day, Sandra was one of the nurses in a testing tent outside—on a cold and rainy day back in March. She remembers how it felt like: “We set up a triage outside to keep germs contained and constantly sanitized. It was very cold and rainy and I couldn't feel my fingers, or even chart well because they were so frozen. But I did molecular karate kicks to the virus for most of my shift!“
For patients with more severe symptoms, the procedure is slightly different. “If they come in with COVID-like symptoms and are extremely short of breath, have other underlying medical complaints such as chest pain or abdominal pain, and are more senior in age, then we place them in airborne isolation in a negative pressure room in the ER,“ Sandra says in a serious tone. She further explains: “Every single patient who enters the ER gets a surgical mask, regardless of what their complaint is. Every single staff member wears a mask as well.“
Sandra and her colleagues live in constant fear of getting the virus. On top of that, they have to be careful about tossing their protective equipment correctly. “It’s definitely busier in the ER because of the amount of time it takes for donning and doffing [terms the medical staff uses to properly put on and take off PPE to prevent contamination]. For every single COVID or COVID-possible patient, we have to don and doff our PPE. Every single time you step out of that patient’s room, you’re cleaning your shields, goggles, and PAPRs. You’re getting rid of the old gown and getting new ones, along with new gloves and face masks.“
With the high number of patients, it's only logical that hospitals are experiencing shortages of lifesaving equipment. “We are low on PPE supplies, especially N-95‘s, which are also known as respirators. Those are the masks that can really protect us,“ Sandra explains calmly. “My ER also just started designating a ‘safety officer‘ per shift, which is a nurse that is trained to make sure everyone is donning and doffing correctly. I think that’s especially important because not everyone knows how to do it correctly, or is properly trained in it.“
After not feeling well for several weeks, Theresa, a 55-year-old writer, wanted to get tested. She first called her primary care physician to get an appointment for a coronavirus test. The next day, her visit to a walk-in clinic didn't take longer than 10 minutes. As she arrived, a sign on the front door of the facility said: “According to city ordinance, all persons on premises must wear a face-covering correctly at all times. Additionally: If you are not a patient, parent of a patient, or necessary care-taker, we ask that you wait outside. Thank you for your cooperation.“ After Theresa entered, she was met by a nurse who handed her a mask and forms that asked three questions: whether she had a fever over 100.4 in the last four days; if she had a cough or cold-like symptoms that included a runny, stuffy nose, sore throat or difficulty breathing in the last four days; and if she had been in close contact or traveled outside of the United States or Canada in the last 30 days or been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Also, the nurse checked her temperature and oxygen rate upon arrival.
After checking in with a receptionist, Theresa was asked to return to her car to wait until the doctor was ready. “I was also given a rapid flu test, whose results came back within 15 minutes. It was negative,” she said. Then, the doctor called her after reviewing her paperwork to discuss any possible symptoms. The coast was clear. The medical team then proceeded to administer a COVID-19 test—all in the safety of her car. Theresa remembered, her face cringing: “It felt as if someone was poking my brain. I wasn't prepared for how much the nasal swab would hurt! I thought it would just be a little Q-Tip. I was completely caught off guard.“ A swab was inserted deep in through her left nostril, which is meant to reach the cells from where your nose and throat meet. “The test itself was quick, just a few seconds maybe. But it definitely was a highly uncomfortable and my eyes teared up,“ Theresa added. She was told that her test results would be available in the next 48 hours. “The hardest part was to keep my mind busy while waiting,“ the 55-year-old said. With regards to the costs, Theresa noted: “This particular test was fully covered by insurance. But without insurance, out of pocket, the test would've been $170!“ When her physician called her after two days, she took a deep breath and sighed when he told her: “Your results came back negative.“
Since the pandemic started spreading, more and more celebrities try to help in the form of donations. The outpouring support also reaches Sandra and her colleagues at the “Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center.” Despite dealing with sickness and death, Sandra oftentimes enters her break room with a smile, as she recalls: “Celebrities and community members alike have been graciously buying us lunch or coffee. We recently got donuts sent from Universal Studios Hollywood and more than 100 meals from Carl’s Jr. Steven Spielberg bought my ER staff Indian food one day, and then pulled pork sandwiches the next. Jennifer Anniston gave a huge Mediterranean meal as well this past week. Chef José Andrés has also been giving us lunch via his non-profit organization ‘World Central Kitchen.’ Sometimes we just show up to work and get pleasantly surprised with amazing food later in the day. It is all so much appreciated!” Sandra also acknowledges: “Halsey just ordered and donated 100,000 masks to my hospital. We’ve actually started using them the other day at work.” Sheadds with a deep sense of gratitude: “It means a lot. Celebrity or not, everyone’s support makes our day go by so much better. A simple gesture of kindness and support goes a long way for us.”
“Sometimes it can be really hard to find the good in every circumstance, day, or moment. But that doesn't mean it isn't there.”
COVID-19 has changed the way people live their lives. The pandemic has been compared to a war against an invisible enemy. It first surfaced in a Chinese seafood and poultry market late last year and has spread to at least 177 countries in a short amount of time. It's the emergency rooms and intensive-care units where the day-to-day human toll of the deadly virus is most evidently visible. But even months after first becoming ill, some recovered patients report breathlessness, fatigue, or body pain. In Hongkong, authorities have been monitoring a small group of COVID-19 patients for up to two months after they were released from the hospital. They found about half of the 20 survivors had a lung function below the normal range—regardless of the severity of their symptoms. In fact, many researchers believe the aftermath of the coronavirus can last more than a decade. For nurses like Sandra, this is alarming, because the long-term damage could push healthcare infrastructures to the limit for years to come. “There's such a wide range in the way it affects people. That's why it‘s important to know how COVID-19 influences human health in the long run, to get better at battling it,“ Sandra says.
But doing the job that keeps the country running has come with a heavy price.With more than four million reported cases worldwide, the coronavirus pandemic has brought the work done by nurses into a new spotlight. Sandra, like so many other frontline workers, is therefore incredibly worried: “We have really busy days, and then sometimes we have really bad days. We constantly see illness and death. But no matter how hard or devastating it is, I put on my scrubs and face mask, and get to work.” At first, Sandra's family wasn't comfortable with her fighting against the deadly disease. “But when they saw the pictures of the protective gear I'm wearing every day, they understood that I'm protected enough.” Nevertheless, these days, being essential automatically means being a target. “I know two colleagues who got sick at work. But gladly, their symptoms were not life-threatening. But I've heard of nurses living in hotels on the days they are working, so they can protect their families at home,” Sandra explains.
In relation to that, experts say that US nurses and doctors could experience PTSD due to the ongoing pandemic. Symptoms might include intrusive memories, or hyper-vigilance—a state of increased alertness, and sensitivity. Dr. Alice LoCicero, a board-certified clinical psychologist, and president-elect of the Alameda County Psychological Association, further elaborates: “PTSD can't be diagnosed until three months after a traumatic event happened, and the healthcare staff are having continuing traumatic events. We call something traumatic when it sort of overwhelms your usual coping mechanism. Healthcare workers also are not receiving the proper amounts of support and assistance from their employers. Some of them are actually being laid off because their healthcare systems are not making enough money. Honestly, it's almost unfathomable to me that healthcare workers that have been through all of this are now being laid off. It's so inhumane that I can hardly even wrap my brain around it.” Additionally, healthcare workers are expected to experience high rates of burnout and depression. “It’s so random who's getting it, and who's dying. It definitely made me more anxious. I never had that feeling before,” Sandra admitsheavy-heartedly.
Recent studies from countries where the pandemic hit earlier shed some light on the potential mental health effects of COVID-19 in the United States. Researchers in China found that nurses and women in particular suffered psychological burdens after the pandemic. In a survey of more than 1,800 nurses and doctors who treated COVID-19 patients, 71% reported distress, 50 % described depression, 44 % suffered anxiety, and 34% had insomnia. In another study, researchers from the University of Rome surveyed more than 1,300 healthcare providers through Italy’s pandemic. They found nearly half reported symptoms of PTSD. Also, at least 160 Italian healthcare workers have reportedly died. According to Dr. Alice, “hundreds of physicians commit suicide every year. And apparently, there are quite a few more that have committed suicide as a result of COVID-19. I'm not saying that everybody who doesn't get help is going to commit suicide. There is a certain kind of mentality of toughness that runs through healthcare workers, the same that it runs through the military. The analogy that's often used for first responders is: Anytime you experience trauma, you put a stone in your knapsack. After a while, you can feel very strong by carrying the knapsack even though you've experienced trauma after trauma after trauma. But after a while, you fall down because you can't carry it anymore. But I don't want to stigmatize any healthcare worker. I actually think we need to celebrate them, but we need to celebrate them by advocating for them, not just by blowing a horn at 7 p.m.” In order to actively help healthcare workers in need, Dr. Alice, in partnership with the Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, has established a support line for anyone who works in healthcare settings. “Our work is about trying to bring people back into synchrony with themselves. Our goal is to make a genuine connection. When you have immediate trauma, you essentially feel like you can't live in your own skin. You just want it to be over. It’s a very isolating feeling. It can't be explained to other people. Your family hasn't been in the hospital with you, seeing the things that you're seeing. Our support line ‘Strong Against COVID-19’ is for everyone who is involved in healthcare settings in any way. We're all in this pandemic together,” Dr. Alice explains.
"I'm not thinking about what might be in a few months. As of right now, I'm just thinking moment-to-moment. I’m a positive person and don't let things easily get to me,” Sandra says almost heroically. “All I’m thinking about is to win the race against time. And to see more people like Gregg Garfield beating the virus, and leaving our hospital. I’m still hopeful. One COVID-patient I was recently taking care of had underlying health conditions and was above the age of 70. Yet, he managed to survive!” But she also admits: “Even though we are discharging a ton of patients, there are still people dying. But, as bad as it sounds, we are slowly getting used to our new normal with a regular flow of COVID-19 patients along with the everyday emergencies.” With the International Nurses Day being celebrated in May, Sandra shares one message for all her fellow frontline workers: “Don't give up. You have to do whatever you can to help contain the virus. And please: Never feel like a failure.”
One thing that keeps Sandra sane is her optimism and a sense of humor that she is trying to keep throughout the pandemic. As the sun sparkles on her pink hair, she enters the Burbank hospital for her last shift of the week, and sighs: “Another day in paradise.”
COVID-19 has changed the way people live their lives. The pandemic has been compared to a war against an invisible enemy. It first surfaced in a Chinese seafood and poultry market late last year and has spread to at least 177 countries in a short amount of time. It's the emergency rooms and intensive-care units where the day-to-day human toll of the deadly virus is most evidently visible. But even months after first becoming ill, some recovered patients report breathlessness, fatigue, or body pain. In Hongkong, authorities have been monitoring a small group of COVID-19 patients for up to two months after they were released from the hospital. They found about half of the 20 survivors had a lung function below the normal range—regardless of the severity of their symptoms. In fact, many researchers believe the aftermath of the coronavirus can last more than a decade. For nurses like Sandra, this is alarming, because the long-term damage could push healthcare infrastructures to the limit for years to come. “There's such a wide range in the way it affects people. That's why it‘s important to know how COVID-19 influences human health in the long run, to get better at battling it,“ Sandra says.
But doing the job that keeps the country running has come with a heavy price.With more than four million reported cases worldwide, the coronavirus pandemic has brought the work done by nurses into a new spotlight. Sandra, like so many other frontline workers, is therefore incredibly worried: “We have really busy days, and then sometimes we have really bad days. We constantly see illness and death. But no matter how hard or devastating it is, I put on my scrubs and face mask, and get to work.” At first, Sandra's family wasn't comfortable with her fighting against the deadly disease. “But when they saw the pictures of the protective gear I'm wearing every day, they understood that I'm protected enough.” Nevertheless, these days, being essential automatically means being a target. “I know two colleagues who got sick at work. But gladly, their symptoms were not life-threatening. But I've heard of nurses living in hotels on the days they are working, so they can protect their families at home,” Sandra explains.
In relation to that, experts say that US nurses and doctors could experience PTSD due to the ongoing pandemic. Symptoms might include intrusive memories, or hyper-vigilance—a state of increased alertness, and sensitivity. Dr. Alice LoCicero, a board-certified clinical psychologist, and president-elect of the Alameda County Psychological Association, further elaborates: “PTSD can't be diagnosed until three months after a traumatic event happened, and the healthcare staff are having continuing traumatic events. We call something traumatic when it sort of overwhelms your usual coping mechanism. Healthcare workers also are not receiving the proper amounts of support and assistance from their employers. Some of them are actually being laid off because their healthcare systems are not making enough money. Honestly, it's almost unfathomable to me that healthcare workers that have been through all of this are now being laid off. It's so inhumane that I can hardly even wrap my brain around it.” Additionally, healthcare workers are expected to experience high rates of burnout and depression. “It’s so random who's getting it, and who's dying. It definitely made me more anxious. I never had that feeling before,” Sandra admitsheavy-heartedly.
Recent studies from countries where the pandemic hit earlier shed some light on the potential mental health effects of COVID-19 in the United States. Researchers in China found that nurses and women in particular suffered psychological burdens after the pandemic. In a survey of more than 1,800 nurses and doctors who treated COVID-19 patients, 71% reported distress, 50 % described depression, 44 % suffered anxiety, and 34% had insomnia. In another study, researchers from the University of Rome surveyed more than 1,300 healthcare providers through Italy’s pandemic. They found nearly half reported symptoms of PTSD. Also, at least 160 Italian healthcare workers have reportedly died. According to Dr. Alice, “hundreds of physicians commit suicide every year. And apparently, there are quite a few more that have committed suicide as a result of COVID-19. I'm not saying that everybody who doesn't get help is going to commit suicide. There is a certain kind of mentality of toughness that runs through healthcare workers, the same that it runs through the military. The analogy that's often used for first responders is: Anytime you experience trauma, you put a stone in your knapsack. After a while, you can feel very strong by carrying the knapsack even though you've experienced trauma after trauma after trauma. But after a while, you fall down because you can't carry it anymore. But I don't want to stigmatize any healthcare worker. I actually think we need to celebrate them, but we need to celebrate them by advocating for them, not just by blowing a horn at 7 p.m.” In order to actively help healthcare workers in need, Dr. Alice, in partnership with the Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, has established a support line for anyone who works in healthcare settings. “Our work is about trying to bring people back into synchrony with themselves. Our goal is to make a genuine connection. When you have immediate trauma, you essentially feel like you can't live in your own skin. You just want it to be over. It’s a very isolating feeling. It can't be explained to other people. Your family hasn't been in the hospital with you, seeing the things that you're seeing. Our support line ‘Strong Against COVID-19’ is for everyone who is involved in healthcare settings in any way. We're all in this pandemic together,” Dr. Alice explains.
"I'm not thinking about what might be in a few months. As of right now, I'm just thinking moment-to-moment. I’m a positive person and don't let things easily get to me,” Sandra says almost heroically. “All I’m thinking about is to win the race against time. And to see more people like Gregg Garfield beating the virus, and leaving our hospital. I’m still hopeful. One COVID-patient I was recently taking care of had underlying health conditions and was above the age of 70. Yet, he managed to survive!” But she also admits: “Even though we are discharging a ton of patients, there are still people dying. But, as bad as it sounds, we are slowly getting used to our new normal with a regular flow of COVID-19 patients along with the everyday emergencies.” With the International Nurses Day being celebrated in May, Sandra shares one message for all her fellow frontline workers: “Don't give up. You have to do whatever you can to help contain the virus. And please: Never feel like a failure.”
One thing that keeps Sandra sane is her optimism and a sense of humor that she is trying to keep throughout the pandemic. As the sun sparkles on her pink hair, she enters the Burbank hospital for her last shift of the week, and sighs: “Another day in paradise.”