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When Courage Meets Care
February 1, 2022
by Michelle Garrett, MS, LMFT
The last couple of years have been both a privilege, and they have been difficult. Walking alongside many hurting people dealing with the various effects of the pandemic is something I can’t easily put words to. It’s complex because on some level everyone has been affected. Therapists are no different. Taking in the level of grief, fear, confusion and the many different perspectives on world events has constantly been an eye-opening experience. It’s been heavy. But, like I said, it’s been a privilege.
One thing that has spoken loud and clear in the past two years is the true dedication and heroism of our medical professionals. I am so grateful. I have clients, family and friends who have worked on the front lines, caring for people in a field that exposes them to the same disease they have watched many die from. They are my heroes. Here are a few:
- A very dear nurse, who has worked on a hospital floor right next to a bulging ICU. Her own floor overcrowded with patients and, for a time, she had to buy her own protective gear because the hospitals weren’t able to fully supply it. She got sick with Covid, ending up in ICU at the very same hospital, this time as a patient. She almost died, and yet, despite a lengthy and compromised recovery period, she still goes to work every week. Her lesson: “I learned how important the little things are in caring for my own patients. After fighting depression for years, when I almost lost my life, I realized how much others cared and that I still want this life.” She’s my hero.
- The young ICU Nurse who was tough as nails and smart beyond her years. Week after week, I watched her come in, sit down and put her face in her hands and shake as she sobbed. She told me story after story of patients that she cared for who died from Covid. Many times, this hospital had been understaffed and under-equipped because of nobody’s fault. This brave young lady, wept because she had to go in to work; but, she also wept because she couldn’t NOT go in. She wouldn’t give up, despite the exhaustion, fears of catching the disease herself at times when her own protective gear failed. Hero.
- The nurse who saw a dying man who had no family there to be with him. So she entered his room to share his last minutes here on earth because no one should have to die alone. She wouldn’t leave his side, reassuring him with words she didn’t even know she had. She said Jesus has been her companion. Hero
- A hospital worker who works in the offices but there is such a shortage because so many were sick, that she works 40 hours beyond her normal 40. Hero
- The physician’s assistant who caught Covid, and couldn’t see her 3-year-old for several weeks because she was so sick. Hero
- The semi-retired doctor who volunteered to go into a city hit particularly hard by Covid and care for others, despite the fact that his own age put him in a higher risk category. Hero
- The doctor who balanced career and motherhood to volunteer additional hours to immunize people because she’d seen so many sick with Covid. Hero
- The retired doctor who served as a chief of medicine for years at a large hospital returned to serve on a committee helping to oversee hospital protocols in dealing with Covid citywide. Hero.
- An ICU worker who cried tears of gratitude for someone who wrote a check for her department to recognize their sacrifices. Heroes
- Hospitals who provided meals to go so that the exhausted staff could go home and have a hot meal after their shift. Heroes.
- For those who go to work everyday, caring for the health and well-being of others every day. Thank you. You are heroes.
In difficult times, few things are as powerful as compassion for another. Some of these stories have been heartbreaking, but each one illustrates a person sacrificing above and beyond to care for others. “Intense love does not measure. It just gives,” Mother Teresa said. Thank you to all serving in the many facets of the healthcare industry. You deserve to know you make a difference, because you do.
“Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you from Transforming Life Counseling Center. May your Holidays and New Year be blessed!”
By Victoria Scoville, LCSW, IMH-E®
By Cindy Rose, M.A., LPC-C
By Caleb Scoville, LPC-S
by Michelle Garrett, MS, LMFT
TLCC often has the pleasure of offering training and CEUs to its staff members and extends these opportunities to those in the counseling community. During our last quarter, TLCC heard from a variety of treatment centers and professionals on mental health topics that expanded our team’s knowledge of resources to better serve our community. Stages of Recovery provided information regarding outpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Oklahoma and Texas. Next Level Senior Advisors provided information about the work they do in helping senior adults and their families find the right fit for their loved ones in assisted living. Live Better at Home shared information about senior home care services they offer in the OKC metro area. Please see an overview of each, to determine if you, or someone you know, might benefit from their services and/or the information they provided. Stages of Recovery TLCC wants to thank Linda Morgan for coming to speak with TLCC therapists to tell us more about Stages of Recovery and the great work they do in OKC and Texas. Stages of Recovery is an outpatient dual-diagnosis drug and alcohol rehab, meaning they treat both addiction and any co-occurring mental health conditions. Stages uses a comprehensive model combining psychiatric, behavioral and holistic therapies. For more information, please see the link above. Live Better At Home TLCC wants to thank Jeremy Allen CEO and Kelly Garrett from Live Better at Home for speaking with TLCC staff about the great work they do in the OKC metro area. LiveBetter at Home provides professional home care services tailored to support seniors and individuals needing assistance in the Greater Oklahoma City area. Our services are designed to enhance independence and quality of life while maintaining the comfort and familiarity of home. Our key offerings of personal care, respite care, and virtual care, provide assistance with daily activities such as meal preparation, medication reminders, personal hygiene, light housekeeping, transportation and companionship. For more information, please see the link above. Next Level Senior Advisors TLCC wants to thank Matt Wilson, CEO and Sara Cook, RN from Next Level Senior Advisors for taking the time to speak to TLCC therapists and provide information regarding the great work they do in multiple states. Next Level Senior Advisors is a dedicated Senior referral and placement agency, that specializes in helping families navigate the complexities and transition into Senior Living. They offer personalized consultations; access to a wide network of senior living facilities offering different levels of care, expert advice and guidance through this process, and ongoing support and advocacy. For more information, please see the link above. We want to say a big thank you and Happy Holidays to all our presenters!