To the nurses, EMTs, physicians, staff who are on the front line of this war, thank you for risking and sacrificing health, safety, comfort to ensure our health, safety, and comfort. You even sacrifice time with your family so we can be with ours. You are exposed so that we can be protected.
You are heroes.
An EMT we know goes to and fro, sirens ringing, carting people back and forth to hospitals on the bloody edge of this pandemic. And when he’s not saving lives, he allows himself to see his kids and wife from afar at an outdoor playground once a week or two to limit the possibility for him to expose them to the virus. And to remind them of his love he records himself singing to them and sends the videos to his daughters.
Sacrificial acts are everywhere.
They harmonizes with the melody of these times, coupled with the dissonance of pain and agony as an aria of heroism crescendos before us in humans performing extraordinary acts everyday, like this EMT.
In New York City, the eye of the storm, we know a world class surgeon who, repaired our baby’s cleft lip and palate, with his seven-figure hands, insured and well manicured, trained in plastic surgery to perform delicate carvings, is now caring for patients struggling for breath, drowning above water.
Now this surgeon answered the call to be on the frontlines because staffing is low from his colleagues getting COVID-19, so he stepped in to fill the gap, exposing himself to the threat.
He has children, a family. He has a great career. Nonetheless, he dives into the trenches. Even though he doesn’t show it, I’d imagine that he has fears. But he charges into danger anyway.
Many are jumping into it, risking much, risking all, to help their patients, them, us, me, you.
This isn’t about title, position, money. It’s about doing what must be done to save lives, stem the tide, help people.
Another friend is a nurse in Queens, and a new mother. We just saw her post a picture on social media. She looked like a warrior, masked, armed, ready to battle this invisible enemy who masquerades in human form, using our bodies as vehicles for its mayhem. And she’s at a Queens hospital attacking it with all of her wits, energy, body, spirit, soul.
To my friends, to strangers, to all who are fighting where the fight is bloodiest, fiercest, most dangerous, we salute you.
We honor you. We love you.
For the courage, valor, duty, honor, love that beats greatly in you, we acknowledge you.
You are the best of us.
You don’t just live to stay alive. You’re spending your lives to save ours.
If there is a silver lining in all of this darkness, it is this. It provides the world a backdrop for people like you to shine and radiate.
So we see you, and by your light we see.
John Pa 