Healthcare Workers

Day 5….Tammy and Brittney in NY…Coronavirus

w2bergen 2 Comments

Today is Tammy’s 5th day in New York and her 2nd day working. She finally received her assignment yesterday for Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx.

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Marriot Marquis on Times Square

After arriving Sunday and checking into the Marriot on Time square, Tammy and Brittney took an Uber to Target to get some grocery’s. Time to prepare for their next several weeks. They have no frig or microwave in their rooms, but their is one on one of the floors. They are able to use laundry service which is a plus. The hotel charges $5 a load. Pretty good price. I asked about the availability to buy bottled water, and they say they are filling their water bottles with sink water. Yuck. No I don’t think I could do that. After resting they went out to the street to find fast food and coffee. They took some interesting pictures.

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This is Brittney. The streets are so empty. Hardly anyone in sight. So Erie….You can only imagine the traffic on a normal day.

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All the Marquis have so many Wonderful Inspiring Messages of Gratitude. They said all the people they meet are so grateful for them being their to help.

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Both the girls looking for McDonalds and checking out their strange new world. Neither on has been in New York before. Monday morning they checked in at 5:45am for their briefing. This is where they will get their assignment. They didn’t get one, but they have to stay in their scrubs all day and be ready for a call at any time. They are able to go back to their rooms to rest. Many more people came in again during the day and overnite. She Estimated near 1000. This happened again on Tuesday, and Wed. Thursday morning they went down and immediately received their assignment. I’m so glad they are going together. They can lean on one another.

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They immediately went and boarded their busses. Fortunately all transportation is provided also. Their assignment was the Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx.

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In the pictures, it doesn’t look that old, but Tammy said it is. Lincoln Hospital in Normal times is a full service Medical Center and Teaching Hospital. It is owned by NYC Health and Hospitals. It is a Level 1 Trauma Center with 362 beds. It was founded in 1839. Tammy started a group text site for all the family so we were all waiting and wished her all the good blessings and stay safe messages……...Yesterday was a day of wondering..….I’m sure we are all doing that now again today. I wondered what she was doing. Our biggest question was, would they supply her with all the PPE she needed to be safe. How bad was this hospital. Seeing all the news reports on TV from New York City Hospitals is very scary...….Finally that evening she came on messenger. She had gotten back to the room earlier and immediately took a shower. She was exhausted. It was a tough day. the hospital has turned from a full service hospital to a total ICU Covid-19 hospital. She said it was crazy. She had to be back on the bus at 6am this morning for their next day. Tina asked about PPE. Did they supply everything? This is what Tammy Said….They came with their scrubs, then put on paper scrubs, then put a full length paper robe on. Now a N95, and a surgical mask over that, then a surgical cap. Then goggles, like seriously big and tight. They wear that the entire shift, which is over 12 hours. I can’t even imagine being dressed like that all day. They asked for Safety Glasses. Rich is going to Lowes today to pick some up. I have a care package ready to mail this afternoon….Priority Mail…They will go in as well as headbands and scarfs for their hair. No Bandana’s to be found. Chapstick, snacks, Kool-Aid packets for their water, and cheap drawstring bags for their lunches and snacks they bring. This morning they asked for a box of sandwich bags for their phones at work. This afternoon I will mail it and hope she gets it very soon. So this will be our life the next several weeks. Waiting for her message at nite to say she is back in her room.

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Here in Harlingen it is heating up. Cameron County is up to 147. Harlingen itself has 47 of those. They are mostly contributed to 2 Nursing Home Facility’s. We have the Shelter In Place extended to April 21. Curfew Midnight to 5. No children in the stores. If they are out in public or in a car, it must be with a parent and have a good reason. We must all wear face masks in public. I went to Walmart yesterday to do Tammy’s shopping and I will say, many people still are not wearing them. Walmart has supplied their employees and even some of them were not wearing them. Our ladies in our park are making them for the people who need them. They are also giving the girls more masks that I will put in the box today…..”Thank You Eastgate Ladies”…..

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They are doing a great job taking care of all of us. This is Rich’s. He wanted a tie, I ordered elastic. They have a pipe cleaner in the nose so you can form it.

So now we just go on. Tammy, Brittney, and all the Healthcare workers are giving themselves to help others. We all pray they will be safe through all this. I know the girls appreciate and are amazed at all the well wishes on FB. They read them all and it helps them to do the task they are there for. Many of you they don’t know, but EACH and EVEYONE means so much to them. You all give them Strength.

Thank You from all our Hearts for all your caring and prayers……

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My Favorite Picture…..You can see the New Years Eve Ball on top of the building

Happy Birthday Tammy….Coronavirus..Day 1 in New York City…

w2bergen 2 Comments

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAMMY” Today YOUR “42”

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…Just 4 days ago, I was thinking if I should send Flowers or Balloons for your Birthday. Then the realization, that I couldn’t even do that, because its not an ESSENTIAL Business….Then Thur. you called me….“How would you feel about me going to New York”.….I took a moment to pause…..I know she is a devoted nurse, but even “THAT” I didn’t expect….I finally said “I don’t want you to, but I understand why and will support you if you go”. So 3 days later she arrived in New York and today is awaiting her assignment.

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The Staffing Agency that is recruiting the medical field put out a call for 550 RN’s. This is the 2nd wave of hiring that I am aware of. Two of Tammy’s friends from Peoria were already their. On Friday the phone lines were opened and they were to stay opened until they hired the full amount. Tammy and her friend Brittney kept trying and finally made it through and were hired. They wanted them their by Sunday for Orientation..…Wow, that’s only 2 days. So plans happened fast. She talked with Tina, as Carly, who is 8 has been staying with her since the Virus broke out. Tina was on board with her going also. Tina has been an Amazing Sister. She has helped Tammy out so much with Carly. It is so hard finding a babysitter when you are a Nurse. Tina has always been their for her. Lately, Carly has been staying with Tina full time because of the Virus. Tammy could easily be a carrier as she works 2 different hospitals. So now Tina has Officially taking the responsibly of Carly while Tammy is gone and this Health scare is going on. Tina got to work and started lining up supplies.

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She found a local supplier of Alcohol Antiseptic Solution. It cost her $255. Quite a bit. She is gave Tammy and Brittany each a bottle and a small spray bottle to refill.

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She personalized each bottle with their name and tinted Brittney’s blue. Tina also managed to get Clorox wipes, gloves, and masks from her Rotary friends.

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Aunt Connie also made her some masks, and also gave her a “Spirit Bag”…..It is suppose to keep her safe. Of course she had to stop and see Carly. Of course Carly doesn’t know she is leaving. All she knows is that her momma is saving peoples lives. It has to be very hard on a child to understand what is happening right now in the world. I can’t even imagine what a child would think when its her mom trying to save people. That had to have been so hard on them both…..Such emotional times. She also had to stop and say Goodby to Cassidy, her 16 year old, who was staying with friends. Then she went and seen her friend Kathrine who is a nurse in Peru. Kathrine had made her a GORGEOUS Birthday Cake.

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It is FABULOUS and so detailed. The Statue of Liberty even has a mask on it. Katherine, it is so Beautiful.

So finally Sunday morning after packing all her supplies and clothes, Katherine and her mom came by and Tammy along with Cameron, her 21 year old son headed to Peoria. They stopped and picked up Brittney who is also a nurse, and then the 2 of them flew out on Delta, heading for NYC with a small layover in Atlanta.

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They arrived around Noon at JFK Airport. Fortunately Brittney is Uber and Large city savy……lol….They took an Uber to the hotel for around $55. The Agency has put them in a Marriot in private rooms right on Times Square.

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Times Square….Notice all the gratitude’s on the Marquis for all the help they are getting

This is her view from her window on the 17th floor. Brittney is on the 21st floor. She said that one of these buildings is where they drop the ball on New Years Eve. Her other 2 friends from OSF in Peoria are at a different hotel. One is in the Bronx. Their Orientation was 5pm Sunday nite. She had told me that she thinks they will be working 21 days straight. The bus will probably pick them up around 6am and they may not get back till 9pm.

So Today is Monday, April 6. It is her 42nd birthday. I talked with her this morning. They had to go to the Lobby and sign in. They don’t know if they will get an assignment today. They were told that once on the job, they might not have time to eat, so fill your pockets. They took a cab to Target and filled up on Groceries for their rooms. Their were many nurses in the Lobby waiting for their assignments. Tammy thinks they are a bit overwhelmed right now and they have more nurses arriving today. But they will get it together. I’m so glad she has Brittney with her and she is not alone. Times like this you need someone to talk with and lean on. At Orientation, they made it sound pretty grim. It was going to be difficult for them. They would see things and might be forced to do things that were not the norm. I’m sure they laid it on the line. When you watch tv and they interview the medical staff, it is really scary. The first Coronavirus case in New York was reported on March 1. Now as of April 6, their are 122,911 cases and 4161 deaths. In New York City alone, their are, 67,552 cases and 2,472 deaths. New York is scared and desperate. They have a shortage of ventilators, masks and other equipment. They are having to make judgment calls on life or death with many of the patients. So I hope that I will be able to talk to Tammy daily. She set up a family chat group for us all. My hope is that she will at least let us know every day that she is ok. It will be a long 3 weeks. We all Hope she stays safe and Healthy.

So Happy Birthday Tammy…..A Birthday to Remember…

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Tammy Graduated in the Summer of 2014 with her BSN. It was a long 5 years. She decided when she was in her 30’s and with 2 kids (single parent) that she wanted to do this. Scott had had an accident and lost his arm, and Ed, Tina’s husband had been in a 4 wheeler accident. Both were lucky to be alive. That’s when she decided she knew what she wanted. It became her passion. Of course being a single mom and no money she turned to the family. She formulated a plan. We all took turns Babysitting. Scott put her on his payroll so she had living money. Whoops #3, Carly showed up…..Small delay, but she persevered. Right after Carly was born, her Ex Boss Rita, from First Student Bus Company came to the house and took care of Carly. We also had a Baby Shower for her….All Diapers and Wipes…..lol…She had 2 years supply….It was Great…...Tina did her share of helping and babysitting. Brandy had her day to take Carly. I was babysitter/Taxi for Cassidy and Cameron after school. Even Aunt Connie helped when needed. On weekends she had friends help so she could study. Every semester we would get our new schedules to help her…..It was a Long….Long 5 years.….But she did it….Because she wanted it so badly, she applied herself and persevered……

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The whole family was behind her….”We ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU”…

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But it was a TEAM EFFORT……This is my Favorite Picture of the Kids….It was taken almost 9 years ago……..Tina, Scott, Tammy.…Their birthdays are all March and April. If it wasn’t for all 3 of them working as a team, Tammy would not have been able to achieve her dream. Now, I’m not implying they all get along….lol….You know theirs’s always sibling rivalry. I could go one forever with stories on that subject.

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SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAMMY….STAY SAFE….YOUR COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE WILL PULL YOU THROUGH. WE ARE ALL HERE PRAYING. THEIR ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE PRAYING FOR YOU, FOR ALL THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Well all this happened in just 4 days…..Whew…..Everyday is a Roller Coaster….