“FINALLY”, MY BOX ARRIVED……I sent it last Friday Priority USPS,  They said Monday delivery.  After it left the Rio Grande Valley, It mysteriously disappeared, but going through 11 check points before arriving in New York City at the Hotel.  3 days ended up 7 days.  Apparently their must be so many boxes being sent these days.  Since everyone is trapped at home, I’m sure they are ordering everything from food to luxury items.  I let Tammy know, so the girls picked it up when they got back.  Then Tammy opened it….

I had taken everything out of the boxes I could and just poured it in….lol…Kool-Aid Packets for their water, a large bag of mints, and many things underneath.  

In the box, I had 2 zipper bags, 2 back packs, snacks, Chapstick, headbands, scarfs, bandana’s from 2 ladies in the park, and on her shoulders is the masks our ladies made in the park.  They gave the girls 4 masks that tie.  They LOVED them.  I think they wear them over their N95 mask.   So they should have plenty now.

Tammy said yesterday was an OK day.  She keeps getting moved everyday to different units.  Brittney and her have never worked together yet.  Yesterday they put her in a unit that had been Occupational Health before.  Now it is a step down unit from ICU.  She had 3 patients that she took care of all day.  I asked her if she has seen a slow down of cases as Governor Cuomo says.  Yes, the Emergency Room is not nearly as busy.  Sometimes they have a surplus of nurses and they send them to different floors.  That is a very good sign.  She said they will probably need help for a long time.  Many of the original staff has left due to being so overworked, tired or sick.   Theirs also many National Guard present.  Every night as they drive home they see more and more activity and people on Times Square.  New York City’s Shutdown has been extended to May 15, but people are getting restless all over the US.   Some of the Hospitals are on the news a lot like Mount Sinai Hospital.  Her Hospital, Lincoln is in a poor neighborhood in the Bronx.  Their are projects around them, so they probably don’t rate to get the news publicity.  Most of them are all Spanish speaking.

They do seem tired, but continue to be upbeat.  But we really don’t know what they are thinking as they go through their day attending to the sick and dying.  I’m sure, it is very hard to see people suffer.  You have to put on a “mask” to cover your feelings.  Here is a piece Tammy put on FB yesterday.  It gives you some incite as to what they are thinking and what is happening……..

“Day 11! It’s getting harder to get up every morning but not impossible! The last couple of days have not been to bad. I have felt like I am starting to make a difference. I am always being put on a different floor and every floor is such a different world. And these patients rarely ask for anything. They know we are busy and are very appreciative for every second of our time that we give them. The patients that are not on vents are seriously struggling to breath. They cant talk or eat. All of the energy is spent on breathing. And we have to keep all the doors closed. Yesterday I was on a floor that had 2 patients per room. The patient by the door is on a vent and the patient by the window is not. There is no tv or radio. And the doors have to remain closed at all times. Can you imagine being that patient by the window? You are concentrating all your effort into breathing and the only distraction being the noises coming from the lifeless person in the bed next to yours with a noisy machine making them breath… knowing that you are probably going to become that person soon …. my heart goes out to all these people… may god bless us all ❤❤❤❤
On a brighter note: my friend Jeny Orozco had me set up this amazon wish list account for people to send us stuff. We never dreamed so many people would care to send anything! With so many thank yous from Britt Novak and I! Thank you soooo much! It definitely makes us a little less homesick and a little more comfortable! We love you! You are amazing!  ……..Tammy

Their is a reward for helping sick people as they get better.  But what is the reward when they witness these patients in their rooms slowly dying.  They witness their pain, and feel and share their inner thoughts on their last days.  Their families are not allowed in because of the virus.  On the news, they show some nurses calling the patients families so they can facetime.  That is their only contact.  Their only reward is making it less painful…..….But that is what a Good Nurse does...…..They do their best to help make them comfortable as possible.

This is an exert from Brittney’s FB.

The first picture shows how I feel everyday: FUCK COVID!!!🖕🏻 The things I see and hear are heartbreaking and unfortunately disturbing. Everyday at work I feel frustrated, sad and most of all, mentally and physically exhausted. I can’t always complete all the tasks intended to actually help my patients …I want to poor my heart and soul into helping everyone but there isn’t enough time, resources, or staff. I feel defeated everyday. 😞 I do what I can but I feel it’s not enough. Everyone who is suffering from this terrible virus needs all the HOPE and PRAYERS they can get. 🙏🏻 I cannot wait until our world is right again 🌎

The second picture: THE POSITIVE. The hospital I’m at has tons of PPE!!!!! I’m wearing my regular scrubs, then paper scrubs and then a gown along with shoe covers, ankle covers, head cover, goggles and I wear a surgical mask over my n95. IT GETS HOT 🔥 let me tell you!! But it’s worth it to stay protected! 🙌🏻 Most have been so thankful we are here to help and I can’t imagine the chaos before we showed up! It’s just mind blowing to me.
So far this entire experience has been a shock to me. I can’t wait to visit NYC again when life it back to normal! It will be nice to see what it’s actually suppose to be like! ☀️⭐️✨
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE LOVE & SUPPORT! I can’t thank you enough! 💕….. Brittney 

These words explain what is going on inside them everyday.  But the fact is, their are thousands of people from the medical field in New York  feeling the same way.  Now the President is thinking about starting to open up the country again.  So lets just hope it is done in a manor as to not have a flare up.  The Governors will take charge of their own states.  I know the country is getting restless, and the economy is terrible.  Unemployment is an all time high, but this must be done in an intelligent way according to each area.  We in the Rio Grande Valley are still going up.  As of last nite Cameron County now has 270 cases with another death…That makes 4 deaths…..That is an increase of 16 cases in one day….

Where and When will it end…….OR WILL IT….