Brittney is Home…NYC…Krucial Staffing….Coronavirus

May 3, 2020May 3, 2020w2bergen 3 Comments

Brittney has finished her last week and left the city yesterday. She is in good spirits and has returned to Peoria Illinois. Now she will be in her first week of quarantine, Tammy is starting her second, and Carrie should be finishing her last. They are all safe and sound.

Britt in the very back next to the guy with black glasses

Brittney on the right…

Brittney had the fortune to be in the same unit every day and a team spirit was formed. I believe that is so important in anything we do. Its a team effort. Patient counts are now slowing down but plenty still their. The other 4 Nurses from Peoria OSF are probably in their 2nd week although Tammy hasn’t talked with them since they spent their day together. These girls have given so much of themselves along with all the medical personnel that came from all over the country. NYC has certainly welcomed them and been so good to them.

Marriot Marquis….The hotel for Tammy and Brittney

Their appreciation has been shown all over the city. The city marquis were full of messages of appreciation.

The NYFD and NYPD continually showed their appreciation.

The Navy Blue Angels and Airforce Thunderbirds on April 28 2020, flying over Manhattan and the Empire State Building. They flew over New Jersey, New York City and Long Island in a salute to Healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Lincoln Hospital where Tammy and Brittney were is still full of Krucial Staffing Nurses. Many of them have finished their contracts, and many of them have resigned for more time. From what I was reading, it I believe they will have new work schedules that will be more beneficial for the Medical staff. They will have days off every week. It will be more like a real job. According to Tammy’s team leader, Krucial Agency holds 90 Percent of the contracted nurses at Lincoln Hospital. Their are other agency’s but they are the biggest. They will be their quite awhile yet. They expect cases to pick up when the city starts to reopen. So many of the regular staff has caught the virus. They have gotten sick, some died, some quite their jobs due to stress and exhaustion. The healthcare system will need to bring in and train many new nurses.

In researching the hospitals of New York City, I found their are 62 Acute Care Hospitals. They are located in the 5 boroughs, ….The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhatten, Queens, and Staten Island. I found these charts..…The Orange are locations being prepared for a surge in Patients…..Blue are Hospitals….The USNS Comfort Navy Hospital ship ended up only treating 182 patients. It was docked for 31 days in the harbor. The Javit’s Center closed friday after treating almost 1,100 patients. It opened in late March, operated by the US Army.

When you look at Lincoln Hospital, the figures are overwhelming. They are a 362 bed hospital, but 525 more beds were added. How on earth could the staff take care of patients when they more than doubled in size. Tammy did say they were everywhere. Even in the halls. I believe she said Occ Health had been crammed with 40 beds. The hospital had become total Covid Care.

Governor Cuomo, had requested the US Army Corps of Engineers build at least 4 field hospitals, which included Javits Center…..The other 3 will remain in place in case there’s a second wave of Covid-19. New York City has taken such a hit. It has brought the city to its knees. How can people be protesting about their rights and freedoms. They want to take their kids out to the store. They don’t want to wear the masks. Look at all these sick and dying people. New York City was caught off guard. I know that the economy is destroyed and people are out of work, but what is more important….Life and family…or…Money… Their has to be a medium to where we can return to our life style. But it will never be the same. Not until a Vaccine is found…..or if..

Krucial Staffing took on a Huge task. They are from the Kansas City area. They are a Specialty Disaster Staffing Agency that FEMA uses for Hurricanes and Tornadoes. They never expected a Pandemic. They received a call from the office of the Mayor of NYC in March. Their Emergency Center Quadrupled in 10 days across 5 different buildings. They had to quickly set up Logistical Teams, Incident Management Teams. In NYC they had to set up Hotels, with a team in each hotel for incoming nurses. They did all the paperwork, assignments, etc. for each incoming medical hire. Each hospital communicated their needs to get their personnel. They needed buses for transportation to each hospital with a team lead on board for each hospital. Back at the office Krucial had to send out the call for nurses. The switchboard had to answer thousands of calls and hire on the spot after collecting all the legal info. During this time, any state license was accepted. No one needed an actual NY license. Last I knew their was over 4,000 nurses hired for the 21 day contract. They were hired in waves of 500 to 1000. By the end of March the help began to arrive. They were housed in many of the hotels across the city. It was a huge undertaking. They also called up medical people for New Orleans. So KUDO’S to Krucial Staffing Agency. I know it didn’t go off without problems, but considering the time element and the needs of NEW YORK CITY, they did amazing.

So for now, we still do our best to co-operate with the authorities. Cameron County is still climbing slowly. Yesterday we had 11 more raising our count to 432 cases and 18 deaths. Our Shelter in Place ruling as well as face masks have expired on April 30. It is recommended to still use them. Retail business’s and restaurants are now opening with only 25 percent of capacity allowed. Beaches are also opened but we must still use Social Distancing. So are we opening to soon????…..Time will tell. The governor will evaluate in 2 weeks. In Illinois, they still have Shelter in Place and face masks. Cook County is still climbing. Down state in our little Putnam County, it is still Coronavirus Free…..The best news is

Tammy Was Tested……She is Covid-19 FREE…….

But she still is Quarantined for 2 weeks……

Thank You to the Girls, and Thank You to all the Staff that answers the call. They have put their life on the line. They didn’t have to do this, but they go anyway. It is like going to war and fighting the front line. They leave their families and put their lives on hold, not knowing where or the circumstances they will work in. It has be exhausting, so mentally depressing, and so many other adjectives. They have witnessed and done things they never thought possible. Many things were done that were not Ethical, but they had no choice due to equipment shortages and PPE. They have now changed inside. I’m sure they will look at things differently now. They need this time to decompress…….

Part 2…..Carrie in New York….Tammy’s Friend…..Coronavirus

April 19, 2020w2bergen 3 Comments

This will be the 2nd half of Carries journey fighting the Coronavirus in New York City at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx. Carrie arrived and started working on March 28, ahead of Tammy. She is an OB, Labor and Delivery Nurse. That is usually a very joyful unit. But can you imagine being in Labor and your lungs are not working anymore? You can’t catch your breath? Not only that, the baby is not getting oxygen anymore either. So so scary to even imagine for those of us who have had childbirth. So her is the 2nd half of her story, taken from her FB posts. All entirely in her words…..

Carrie on the Right

CarrieAnn
April 10 at 6:38 AM ·

THANK YOU Crystal for my package!!! …we’ve been best friends for so long you’re just a part of me, and that’s why I wasn’t surprised at all that it was full of things only a best friend would know to send. I love u sooo much! Love the books, and wax melts, the food- all of it!
Ps- those green olives!! 🤣😛🙌🏼

CarrieAnn
April 10 at 8:23 AM ·

Shout out to GO DASH DOT for generously sending these bags to all the L&D nurses here at Jacobi! Thank you for thinking of us during this time, it makes our job a little easier!

CarrieAnn
April 10 at 10:48 AM ·

These two, making day FOURTEEN doable .. Janice and Alexa

CarrieAnn
April 12 at 6:25 AM ·

I haven’t posted the past couple evenings because I’m just drained. The word “tired” doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. We’ve all fallen into and accepted a cycle of bus, work, wait, bus, sleep. And there’s not enough of the sleep in the cycle. Now the company is combining buses so we have to be up and on the bus a half hour earlier. It sounds like a small amount of time, but that’s two hits of the snooze button. It’s precious. I’d completely given up any attempt at doing anything with my face on day 4. You get nothing…..wait, you get eyebrows. That’s all you get. (Thanks Haley )
And for anyone who truly knows me…well..
Friday was my 14th day working in New York. I listen to the fairly regular pace of overhead pages calling codes, all day long and subconsciously count them in my head, always realizing by the end of my shift that I tuned it out at some point and lost count. But Friday there was an overhead code page to a room we knew, and our hearts stopped. Go back and read Day 8..when we sectioned a mom who was counting on God to “get her through it”.
There are more and more covid positive moms on our floor. I am cautious with every patient, but it’s unnerving when you KNOW she’s positive.
I’ve felt more and more a part of this unit, I know their stories and their lives..how much they love this city and how it’s changed their lives in so many more ways than we can imagine. Yesterday I had the first thought that it may be hard to leave them. These are nurses just like us..but they can’t leave..they will be here until the last covid + patient comes thru, and I can’t imagine how long that will take.
Yesterday was Saturday, Day 15, and for the most part it acted like a Saturday. Here’s to hoping today acts like a Sunday.
Remember when our biggest thought on Easter Sunday was if there will be enough table space for everyone, or if we will need to set up card tables? Today I will be in the same building with countless families who just pray their person doesn’t die on Easter. Make Easter as Easter-y as you can for your kids, have the dinners and watch them enjoy their baskets, and get pictures of that egg hunt!… but let’s pray with them.
Thanks everyone♥️

CarrieAnn
April 13 at 10:27 PM ·

I loved my day off. I only got out of bed to eat…and take a few pictures on the walk to get food with these great gals Shameka, Marlea and Akila

CarrieAnn
April 14 at 8:45 PM ·

I’m not sure if a day off made it better, or worse, but I know when the alarm went off there were two words in my head and the first one began with f and the second word was “this”.
Day 18 saw me circulating the OR for my covid+ patient, recovering her, trying to reassure and comfort her, while worrying about myself if Im honest..worrying if I’m doing enough to protect myself every time I went in and out of that room. Trying to mEinimize the trips in it at all, and trying to convince myself it wasn’t less ..a lot less…than it would have been for a healthy post-op patient.
My sister has monitored the New York trend of Covid positive cases. I arrived on the 27th. On the 31st there were 66,497 cases in the state. Today there’s 201,208.
I still see the procession of bodies out the windows toward the back side of the hospital. I just tell myself they were all 100 year old’s who lived a full life.
One of the hospitals plays Alicia Keys and Jay Z’s Empire State of Mind overhead every time someone gets extubated, and nurses are saying it’s playing more and more throughout the day.
I don’t know how many babies we had today, but most of the labor rooms were occupied, and still..the unit focuses on births, new life, and holding each other up. Nobody feels sorry for themselves here, there’s no complaining, everyone smiles..as if it’s their sole responsibility keep moral up..the cheerleaders for New York City. And I wonder if every OB unit in the city is like this right now.
Praying really hard for the nurses that are working day in and day out in ICU, ER, med/surg (that are basically ICU’s) with no cheerleaders. I couldn’t do what they do.

CarrieAnn
April 15 at 8:14 PM ·

Today Jacobi Medical Center started playing “Fight Song” overhead throughout the whole hospital every time a patient is extubated or discharged. I heard it 4 times today. Talk about goosebumps.. tears all over the place🙌🏼♥️

CarrieAnn
April 16 at 6:20 AM ·

Someday, healthcare workers that aren’t answering you today will need to talk. They are going to tell you about the patients who died without their families. How their co-workers were getting sick all around them. How women gave birth in masks. How they held the hand of their dying patients because no visitors/family are allowed in the hospitals. How terrible it was to fear going to work and then fear going home to their families. How they worked with skeleton staff and heavy gear or no gear and had to make it through every day hoping not to be exposed. Someday, they will need to talk again. They will need you then, but today they just need to go to war with Covid 19. @nurseforest

CarrieAnn
Yesterday at 6:16 AM ·

Starting out Day 21, I can’t really process what I’ve just done. It’s been so exhausting , I’ll never casually throw around the phrase “I’m so tired” again..it’s been heartbreaking, it’s been terrifying at times, things I’ve seen, heard and done will replay in my mind for many days ahead..and it’s been indescribably rewarding. What I’ve learned about people, and myself, the last 3 weeks has changed me forever.
I’m not sure what decision day 22 will bring, I feel compelled to stay longer- these nurses are my pack now- but my heart is longing for home and normalcy. I know whatever I do, it won’t be my decision I’ll just be following the path He wants me to take because the one thing that’s got me this far is putting God in charge.
Thank you.. to each of you that have posted and messaged me with your kind words, I felt it every day. Thank you to my kids, who have checked on me daily and sent loving silly texts, who still made me feel needed like moms are, it kept me going..and Joshua, who supported me with so much love, and uplifting encouragement when all he really wanted was for me to stay safe at home. I have never loved my people more, and Im going to try to live it, and remember how all this feels when I get home and comfortable.. life is short and none of us know when it’s over, live a life of integrity..forgive quickly and love tenderly.
That’s my takeaway.

So yesterday was Day 21, the last day of Carrie’s contract. At that time she had to decide if she wanted to stay. They now have the offer to work 60 hours week by week. After a day off, she has decided to stay another week. Even so she is longing for home and her family, she feels a need to stay and help a little longer.

She is an amazing HERO.….Just like all the other Health Care Workers. They are giving of themselves, putting their life at risk to help. Many have also given up their jobs as hospitals won’t give them the time off. They have answered the call and only had 2 to 3 days to organize their life for 3 weeks, and be in New York ready to work. They had to leave their spouse or partner, some arranging child care, talk to their present employer, and organize and pack everything needed. They also have to arrange their own transportation. They have no idea what or where they will be working till they receive their assignment. Many have walked into a very chaotic and disorganized hospital short of so many needed supply’s. It was characterized as “GOING TO WAR”. Their are no rules. You do the best you can. Many times it isn’t possible to save a life for many reasons, but move on to the next one in line. Ill post a few of Carries pictures on her day off. Then she will be included in the next posts, along with Tammy, and Brittney. They are at Marquis Marriot on Times Square, and working at Lincoln Memorial in the Bronx. They are on Day 15 tomorrow

CarrieAnn
3 hrs ·

The only taste of sightseeing I’ll have while I’m here..an empty Times Square.

..Please continue to follow all 3 girls while they finish out their stay in New York…

Part 1….Carrie in New York….Tammy’s Friend….Coronavirus

April 19, 2020April 19, 2020w2bergen 4 Comments

In the beginning of all this, I mentioned Tammy had 2 other nurse friends in New York City. This is one of them. Carrie Ann. She has a Very Special Story to tell. Tammy and Carrie met at Kindred Hospital in Peoria, and then they both worked for awhile at IVCH in Peru Illinois. Carrie is a Travel Nurse and her specialty is OB, Labor and Delivery. Carrie’s Day 1 of 21 started on March 28 2020. She is staying at the New Yorker in Manhattan and working at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. This is so heart wrenching to read her posts. But she is telling how it is. These are story’s that should be told. Their are some doubters out their that just don’t realize what is truly going on in this world with this virus. The people in the New York City are fighting for survival. We need to know what these nurses and doctors and all personal are going through to help these people daily, …..and you might wonder…. why do they do it?…..It’s because they feel the need to help. They are answering the call that they are trained for….It’s their LOVE OF LIFE AND PEOPLE. So in this blog I will copy the words directly from Carries FB site…..These will all be her words……with her permission…..Preserved for us all….

So Lets Follow her for her 21 days fighting Covid-19 in New York City

CarrieAnn is at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
March 27 at 9:57 AM · Chicago, IL ·

I’ve said it before .. being a nurse isn’t what I do, it’s who I am. It’s not always a choice, it’s a calling, sometimes you don’t even understand it yourself.
So in the words of my little brother, Im going to “bring my ass home”, but for now, let’s do this New York

Jacobi Medical Center

CarrieAnn
March 28 at 6:39 PM ·

Day 1. Jacobi Medical Center.
I’m overwhelmed and proud to be part of this group of nurses.
Ps didn’t post this morning.

CarrieAnn
March 28 at 6:52 PM ·

So I’ve decided I’m going to do something I don’t normally do, and I’m going to post about my days while I’m here..as much as I can by the time I make it to the end of the day. And it’s not going to be your average sugar coated filtered Facebook bs, I’m going to be raw and honest about what is happening here. Unfriend me now if you don’t want to know.
Day 1 started with some uncertainty because it’s the first day. No one really knows what they’re doing. A bus shuttles us from the hotel to the hospitals we are assigned to. There was a group of us on our first day so we had a day of hospital orientation before heading to the floors tomorrow. While waiting at the elevators to go up to education the nurse escorting us answered her phone and started crying, asking the person to repeat what they’d just said.. then cried out, and sobbed. She walked away then came back and told us one of their educators just died from corona.
On the bus back to the hotel at the end of Day 1 and I receive a text from a newer nurse, I think she’s been a nurse 4 years, she’s young, a lovely girl, and she was assigned to Elmhurst.
She just got on her bus, and this is what her Day 1 will look like.
PLEASE PRAY.

Mar 29 at 8:59AM

Day 2 in NYC. I am still at Jacobi Center and I’m in Labor & Delivery where we still have plenty of supplies.

The text from my friend about her first night at a different hospital.

“ER -one nurse taking care of FIVE intubated “sedated” possible positive covid patients. five to one, he was just running around trying to keep a BP going.
they are out of ALL supplies… they’re out of pumps!? they had fentanyl/levo/propofol gtts with no pumps. they were titrating by the roller clamp. maxed out on vent settings, with sats in 70-80s and they were happy with that sat.
patients coding every couple minutes.
it’s a 50 bed ER, and they have over 200 patients in there right now. patients just stacked on top of each other and having to move stretchers around to just reach a patient in the back row.
they made a tent morgue outside of the ER and it’s full already.”

Feeling thankful beyond words for my assignment today, and praying this nurse has peace in her heart and mind this morning when she lays down to sleep. Even just for a few hours. ♥️

March 29 at 9:08PM

Today I got my assignment, and thanked God above my whole walk to the labor and delivery unit.
That group of nurses were so appreciative -so thankful that we’re here to help- I’ve never felt so appreciated walking onto a shift. They took me in as one of their own made me feel welcome and did not miss an opportunity to thank me, all day long.

The TV in the break room runs between ABC NBC CNN and Fox news all day long, trying to keep up with the latest with Covid while managing our patients.

Employees at the hospital were picketing outside the emergency room and I’m not even really sure why… The biggest complaint I hear is about having to use the N95 masks for a week before we can get a new one. They gave out small brown paper bags, like a lunch bag, to store it in.

The labor and delivery unit is dated, and not well laid out. The cabinets are falling off hinges with long mismatched screws holding them on, and there is paint chipping off most of the corners of walls, and along the ceilings. But it doesn’t change the overall feeling of optimism on this unit, and in the midst of everything going on all around us, we had a delivery of a healthy baby girl today.

Every nurse that got on the bus wore her day on her face, some spoke it in words, some look defeated. One cried. We talked about our day.. the good, and the bad, then finished the bus ride back with our acapella rendition of Joe Diffys John Deere Green. RIP Joe

March 30 at 7:02PM

Day3.
Today I learned why Mondays get a bad rap. New York hospitals did that.
It doesn’t matter how experienced or strong of a nurse you think you are, you’re not ready for this. I got there, took my assignment in triage, and the door didn’t stop revolving. Within the first hour all the triage beds were full and there was a line waiting. Some were belligerent and cussing demanding to be seen, some were tearful, all were scared. Everyone’s wearing masks and complaining of how hot they are. Management is visible, on the floor working, asking what you need, how they can help.

These women are coming in alone, leaving their husbands, sisters, moms- whoever brought them- in the waiting room as they are assessed and treated. If they stay they can have one support person, no trading off- ONE person, per patient, per stay…. WHEN THEY ARE HAVING A BABY. Or when they’re not. Some of these girls are miscarrying, or having a threatened miscarriage, and they have to pick the one person that can sit next to them, hug them, tell them it’s going to be okay. One person. Because of this virus. Oh, and when they do deliver, dad gets one hour to bond then they have to leave .. til mom goes home.

Covid in pregnant women is a hard thing to look at. She’s struggling to breath and her 02 sats are in the 70-80s. Do you know how much oxygen that means her baby is getting? She went to ICU. I didn’t have time to check and see how she was doing after she left our floor.

I also didn’t have time to eat, drink, or pee. I can feel my heartbeat in my feet after sitting down for 10 minutes on this bus, and don’t even feel sorry for myself because I had more help than the night shift I just left.

March 31 at 9:27PM

I wasn’t going to post words tonight, but just a picture. If you haven’t seen it, this isn’t some professional National Geographic wait for the perfect poignant shot picture. It’s a snapshot, taken with a phone, by a nurse, here, in New York City.

But then…

Ive always been a believer of “to each their own”. I’ve never had a hard time respecting someone’s opinion or beliefs without agreeing with them myself. And then today I find myself typing out the words “you’re a fucking idiot” in response to a strangers comment on a friends post. A stranger. Going on and on about how this virus is a hoax. Well-?! .. is he..? an IDIOT?? Are people that fn STUPID? I just hope..these individuals don’t end up with the virus themselves and need the medical attention and treatment from one of these doctors or nurses that read that shit. Because I think, for the first time in my life I would walk on by.

April 5 at 7:05 PM

Day 5 was mixed. I am sore and I am tired. My back hurts from being on my feet for 15 hours a day, and there are open spots on the back of both my ears from wearing a surgical mask over the N95, to try to make it last longer. You end every day with a headache from the tightness and pressure of the N95 on your face all day. We have two rooms just dedicated to corona virus rule outs on Labor and Delivery, and we are going to ICU to do fetal monitoring for positive moms. We constantly weave in and out of ambulances on the way to and from the hotel. I’m not complaining.

I was present and praising God at the beginning of 2 new lives today. The OB charge nurse called the 4 of us crisis nurses together n she stood up and told us that when she saw on the news that nurses were coming from all over the country to help in NY, she was emotional and touched. When she heard her hospital was getting 200 nurses, she was excited. But when we walked onto her unit to work, she couldn’t believe it. She thanked us with a sincerity that was raw and I will never forget.

Across town my friend Sid had a different day. When she text me I put my phone down and cried. You don’t even have to be there to feel the terror of that shift. Its not plateaued, and it’s not slowing down. Again, she is not at the same hospital I am.

****five codes… they all die. staff is so so rude and unhelpful. it’s such a toxic environment.
my patient was one of them at 0630. my vent stopped working because it’s a damn portable and he’s been on it for three days. they refused to get him another one and said that they had to save them for other patients… I bagged him for a good 30-45 minutes without a peep valve and of course he started to decompensate. it was me and a resident and nobody would help, he coded and died. the bus has left me. I have to wait for a van to come get me.
we are reusing code carts over and over, we have no oxygen on the unit, the low oxygen alarms are going off, we are out of sedation, we’re using pediatric pulse ox’s… i’m doing things that are just going against my morals and it’s so hard to see how these patients are going down.
I do not think covid is killing these people, it’s the lack of staff, education, equipment and resources…. *****

And so now there’s that.

Oh, and my other friend here, that I came with, she was in the ER today, positive.

CarrieAnn
April 3 at 8:07 PM ·

On day 7, the Midwest is looking really good. After a week here, working nonstop, you’re a different person. I miss home, miss my kids and I miss my husband, Joshua, who tried everything from arguing to pleading with me not to go-because he was worried about my health-but has been indescribably supportive, and encouraging me every day. I love you.
Im irritable and emotional. Tears fell out of my eyes and right down onto my patients bed yesterday as I’m leaning over her doing all the things when we lost fetal heart tones. That’s not how I nurse, and has nevvver happened. I just couldn’t help it.
The feeling of impending doom is heavy. There are numerous morgue trailers, morgue tents, and mobile morgue trucks all over the city. Ambulances constantly speeding by, lights on, horns blaring.
Don’t miss the view from my patients labor room below.
The hospitals here have now started ethical triage. That’s when families are simply told there are no ventilators to save your family member. Do they need a ventilator to survive? Yes? Then roll them over there to die.
People over 65 have been denied ventilators to give it to a younger person who has a better chance. WHAT-?
Many healthcare workers here are writing their last will and testament.
New York has now initiated orders that first responders cannot transport people to hospitals if they cannot be revived on the field. They just don’t…even…take…them. Can you imagine, in our country, calling 911 because your wife can’t breath and they won’t even put her into the ambulance?
Thousands of nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors have come to New York, and are risking their lives to help. NO ONE knows how they will respond to the virus..you may be okay, you may die.
All you have to do is stay home.
Or you could be standing in the emergency room hearing “I’m sorry but we don’t have a ventilator for your wife/son/daughter.” No bullshit.
How bout the NYFD though, greeting nurses for our shift 🙌🏼❤️

CarrieAnn
April 5 at 10:07 AM ·

Yesterday was day 8, and it was the closest representation of a “normal” day in labor and delivery. I had a 1:1 mag patient that I was able to give the appropriate amount of attention to, and I didn’t feel like running off the floor once. I’ve gotten a lot of support and kindness from the staff nurses here, and that makes a huge difference.
There are 2 covid+ moms on the unit- these women are SICK- and we sectioned a mom that was in ICU because her oxygen was in the 80’s, and although she resisted having a c/s all day, insisting God would get her through it, her body couldn’t win out over the strain the virus was putting on it. Her baby was born alive and went to NICU.. but this unit continues to focus on life and beginnings. It’s upbeat- a small little bubble of happiness compared to the rest of this city.
I also received a package from the best best friend, Lynn, with more “stuff” I couldn’t live without! Shaina, you’re a special kind of person, and I’ll never forget the N95s you had for yourself, but sent to me instead. ♥️
So I’ll use this opportunity to share some pics I’ve taken since I’ve been here..none too exciting, no touristy or cool things that one would want to see on their first trip to New York, but New York nonetheless.

Madison Square Garden

New Yorker, Carries Hotel

CarrieAnn
April 5 at 3:02 PM ·

Live♥️ NYFD here showing love to the health care workers!

CarrieAnn Munson
April 6 at 9:38 AM ·

Day 9….Yesterday was my 9th day in a row working in New York City.
The NYFD came to Jacobi and showed the nurses and docs some love, and that was cool.
L&D was slow so I was floated to PEDS, which isn’t pediatrics at all anymore. It’s now an adult med-surg with double occupancy rooms. Practically every patient is covid positive or covid rule-out. The stream of admissions literally doesn’t stop and I heard the charge nurse say I’m at maximum capacity now so what do I do- put 3 in a room?
The mood is still upbeat. This charge nurse was joking and laughing, trying to keep his nurses light and moral high.
One of the nurses in my group got onto the bus tearful, saying she lost one of the patients she’s taken care of since we arrived here. A 38 year old man, who left his wife and 10 year old son, and died alone because of quarantine. The things etched in our minds eye and memories are hard to explain in words, you just can’t understand it without seeing it.
The people who are really sick go from bad to worse quickly, and recovery, if at all, is very slow. The few people that do get extubated, are still 100% dependent on BiPAP. For those who are intubated, more than half are on very strong medications to keep their blood pressure up. And still many of them are dying anyway, despite our best efforts. The most tragic part, is that they are alone. Staff uses their iPhones regularly so that families can use FaceTime to see their person one last time, and say goodbye.
There are videos people are taking suggesting that the situation in New York is not as bad as the media projects. I don’t have the time to watch all the news right now, and I can agree that the streets, even around the hospitals, are not crowded. However, that is NOT an accurate depiction of where actual patient care is being provided. At least in Queens, and the Bronx.. even Manhattan, every department that cares for the critically ill is stretched way beyond normal capacity. I have been working with nurses and physicians, anesthesiologists, general surgeons, gynecologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurse anesthetists, all of whom have been stepping in to do their best to function as intensive care and/or emergency medical providers. In the emergency room, there literally is no more room for additional stretchers, and those less ill are sitting in chairs, for hours and hours.
This pandemic is real. The severity, which luckily doesn’t seem to impact the majority, is devastating for the minority. Please- distance yourself from others. Act like you have it, and everyone who doesn’t live with you has it too. You may get Covid, you may not. You may get really sick, you may not. But you could be the reason someone else does, without ever knowing.. and some of them are DYING. Dying with no family member there in their final moments…and that would be much worse than missing out on time with your friends, or not eating in your favorite restaurant.

CarrieAnn
April 7 at 8:24 PM ·

Day 10….Yesterday was day 10. My friend was woken by a call on her room phone from the NYPD, saying there was a complaint against her and she needed to come to the police station for questioning. The officer told her he didn’t want to embarrass her so he would give her time to shower, and she could wear her street clothes (not scrubs) down to the lobby where he would meet her in 40 minutes, walk her out and cuff her before putting her into his car. She called home to fill them in and was told to call the police station back and ask questions.
She learned that no officer had called her, no complaint had been filed against her, and no officer was coming to pick her up to take her to the police station for questioning.
She notified our company who quickly made arrangements to move her, and make her non-registered. They are also making frequent checks on her.
So not only are we fighting the virus, lack of sleep and hot meals, long hours on our feet, homesickness, death in our faces…. now we have to worry about abduction, or worse.
W. T. F.
Today was my 11th day working in New York.
It was a good day.
I was just a labor nurse, it was a nice pace, with wonderful fellow nurses, and a good delivery.
God is present, and He is good.
I am tired, and homesick, He knew I needed a day like this.

CarrieAnn
April 9 at 6:04 AM ·

I have NO WORDS for the overwhelming feeling of gratitude and appreciation to each and every one of you- and I know who you are- that took the time out of your day -and money out of your wallet- to send me something here in New York to make my time easier. I’ll never forget it. ♥️♥️♥️

CarrieAnn
April 9 at 7:03 PM ·

Day 13….Today was my 13th day here. Today we also had military nurses arrive at the hospital and assigned to the floor. It is an actual deployment for them. Today I started my shift counting the codes paged overhead, and just realized I stopped counting at 11, hours ago. Today we started swabbing all patients admitted to labor, regardless if they show symptoms or not. Have any of you had this done?..or seen it done?… if you haven’t yet, go ahead and search a video. The swab goes up your nostril all the way back, to your throat. Thrrroaat. Their eyes water and they try to stall, some women push the providers hands away over and over..and then they swab the other side.
I miss home, and it feels so much longer than 2 weeks. But I have so much love and support from home..thanks again to all of you that sent me care packages, you can’t know how much of a difference it makes. And this unit continues to make each of us one of their own, embracing us more every day, with endless thank you’s.
I still feel healthy, with no signs of illness, so I won’t be whining or complaining.

This is Carrie’s first 13 days. It is so hard to comprehend as we just sit here every day waiting for the days to pass. We see it on the news, but the reality does really have the full impact unless you know someone who is fighting the fight……Part 2 will follow her to DAY 21

Day 12…..My Box Arrived…Tammy in New York….Coronavirus

April 17, 2020April 17, 2020w2bergen 1 Comment

“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….

Day 9……Tammy and Brittney in New York…Coronavirus

April 15, 2020w2bergen Leave a comment

TODAY IS BRITTNEYS BIRTHDAY…..”HAPPY BIRTHDAY”

Yesterday was Day 9 of their 21 day contract.

The girls have been very busy and don’t have much time to talk. They have had some very hard days. They work 12 hours and are on their feet all day. The hospital cafeteria is closed, Tammy mentioned a food truck was outside the hospital, but she didn’t have time to make it yesterday. Everything is closed at the hotel by the time they get back. So they depend on the food they bring. Their are no frig’s or microwaves in their rooms which I find awful. Especially a frig. By the time they leave their feet are so tired and they are exhausted. She mentioned having some trouble with the bus being there on time and also having a driver for the return trip to the hotel. Lots of confusion I think. But like Tammy said, “Their are no rules” They all just do their best. Sunday, when she returned to her room she said she was exhausted and her feet hurt and it was all over a bad day. She went straight to bed. One morning when she returned, 3 people died during the night. On the floor that was originally the OB floor, she said 6 our of 7 were on Ventilators and in a coma. I was really worried for her the next day, but she text in the afternoon. She had been moved to another floor that was an established ICU. Their was more of the regular staff, and things ran smoother. She was much more upbeat. I was so relieved. Yesterday she had a REALLY GOOD DAY……She was in charge of 6 patients all day. She even did her drips. “Not That I know what that means”….lol…But she said they weren’t on Ventilators but probably would be soon. She felt really Good about the care she had given.

Last week I had sent my box with all their supplies in it. Masks, Safety Glasses, Scarfs, Headbands, Chap Stick…..ETC….I sent it Priority on Friday, and they said it would arrive Monday. Here it is Wed morning and no Box. I’M NOT A HAPPY CAMPER....Tammy posted a link to Amazon so anyone could send them snacks and drinks….Well first shipment arrived today.

An Amazing amount of boxes. But bet those boxes don’t really have much in them. Amazon doesn’t pack very appropriately. But it was like Christmas. Tammy called me and she put the 2 of them on Speaker Phone while they opened everything. They were laughing and had a good time.

…..What a mess…..

They got some really good stuff. Those drinks will be so good for them after drinking sink water….yuck….All the packages that come to the hotel for the nurses are put into a semi trailer. The hotel doesn’t sort it, members of the staffing agency sort it and the girls have to go and get their mail. Hopefully my box comes tomorrow. After we hung up, they found out they had more packages….

Today is Brittney’s Birthday…..Look at That those Masks……..Now that’s Classy…

”HAPPY BIRTHDAY”

Now that’s something they will never forget…Their Birthdays of “2020” Tammy’s April 6, Britney’s April 15….Both spent in New York City fighting Coronavirus

Wow, how much more will you girls get…..But it was so good to hear them laughing and see them smiling. It was a good day for them. I know they so needed it. They are so GREATFUL To Everyone who sent them stuff. They were amazed. It sure gave them a HIGH tonite. These will be things they will never forget, The generosity of their friends….THANK YOU....They found out on Monday 5 more of the nurses from OSF in Peoria have been hired. They have to be in New York City Wed and Thur. They don’t know what hotel they will be at yet. Even though Mayor Cuomo says it is leveling off, the agencies are still hiring. So Many are still dying every day.

So tonite Tammy will go to bed and put another post it note on her picture on her wall. She has them numbered to 21, and also her cards their that she has received….Hoping Tomorrow will be as good as today.

The statistics of New York City are mindboggling. Their have been 10,367 deaths contributed to Coronavirus. As of Monday the city has tallied 107,263 cases, with many more being undetected because of lack of testing. Among the Coronavirus deaths 60 percent happened in the hospital, 22 percent at home and 18 percent in Nursing Homes or long term care. Brooklyn has had the most, followed by Queens, and then the Bronx.

Here in Cameron County we are up to 239 cases with 3 deaths. Harlingen has 84 of those. 5 days ago we only had 147 in the county and Harlingen had 47. We are escalating fairly fast. But in Harlingen many of those are contributed to the 2 nursing facility’s. All 3 deaths were in the nursing homes. Once it is in their it is so hard to control. It is spread before anyone realizes it. It has spread from the employees and families to the patients. So sad. So we continue to stay home, shop when needed with our masks on as the County has ruled. Now, only 1 in the car preferred, but if 2 you must wear the masks. No children in any store, nor in a car unless an essential reason. More people are leaving to head north. We still have some more Winter Texans but by the end of the month they will leave. We will be back down to our regular residents of 100+ people. We were going to head north in May, but who knows now what will happen. The president is talking about starting to open up the country, but I think it will take a lot of time. Many states still have not peaked. I’m afraid if it opens to soon, it will escalate again. The Governors are not happy about Trumps plan to take control. They want the power themselves to make the decisions. I feel that is right. Each state has had their own impacts of this virus. Some much worse than others. Each needs to examine their data and act according to the best interests of the healthcare for their residents. China has now finally opened up their country about a week or two ago. But what is on the news…….Their is an escalation of cases…..So This is Scary….WE NEED THAT VACCINE.…

Day 5….Tammy and Brittney in NY…Coronavirus

April 10, 2020April 24, 2020w2bergen 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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”…..

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……

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

Day #8 ….of Shelter in Place

April 2, 2020March 26, 2021w2bergen 1 Comment

This morning I woke up as usual before dawn. I have never gotten rid of that work mode in my internal clock. When I was working, we had to be at work at 5:30 am. If I don’t get by 5am, the cat is in my face and pawing my arm. He knows what time it is. After I got up, I feed him his first meal of the day. Then I opened the interior door. Its going to be another beautiful day. It is in the low 70.s and will heat up to the mid to high 80.s. The air is so fresh in the morning, and theirs a gentle breeze blowing in. As the sun rises, the rays of light start shinning in and the birds start chirping. They are starting their day as well. Such a beautiful morning. The birds have no idea, all seems so calm and pristine, but theirs a health crisis looming and shutting down the world. Nothing in our lifetime has ever happened like this before. It is a Coronavirus Pandemic. Then I turn on the TV and check the news on my phone…..Reality sets in…..

In the State of Texas, only essential business are open through the month of April. Schools are closed till May 4. Social Distancing protocols, will also stay in effect through April. Our curfew is still in effect. All of these things are so important to slow down the Virus.New York is suffering the worst. In the past 72 hours their death toll has doubled to over 1900 people. New York City is running out of hospital beds and ventilators. Some of the bodies are being loaded into refrigerated reefer vans. The hospitals have no room nor do the funeral homes. The news says that as soon as a person dies their is another person waiting for the ventilator. In Central Park, they have set up a 68 bed field hospital to treat the overflow of patients.

Good Samaritan Purse is a Christian organization from North Carolina. This hospital is composed of a Respiratory Care unit with ICU capabilities. The whole world is shutting down and suffering with this virus.

This is a chart of the top 4 countries. We are #1. Almost a million people have been affected. Over 50,000 deaths. All of this has happened in such a short time. Just several weeks ago, life was still normal…..How fast it has changed. Here in the Rio Grande Valley, it is just starting.

As of last nite, we had 106 cases in the RGV, which is these 4 county’s. We live in Cameron County…..Hidalgo is to the west of us. Cameron County went from 26 to 37 overnite. 9 of those are in Harlingen. So it is now here. Here at the park, our Club Houses are now closed as well as the pool and spas. Everyone stays home, but we still walk around the park and practice Social Distancing.

One of the couples in the park are making light of the situation. They set up these chairs so Social distancing can be practiced when your walking…..lol….We also decided the other day to open the North Hall. We have a nice Library and lots of puzzles that people can take home. So now on Tue and Fri, 11am to 12noon, they can come in and exchange their books and puzzles, so they have something to take home to do. They will be sanitized and set in quarantine for a week before being put back into circulation again. They were pretty excited about that. Many people still like having the book in their hands to read rather than a Kindle.

Last nite (April 1), we all joined the group “Let Their be Light”.

Anyone who had a porch lite, turned it on. Many lite a candle outside their door. All for the support of our Medical personal working to help save the lives of those afflicted with COVID-19.…They are all putting their lives at risk. This also includes my daughter Tammy. She is a RN working in 2 different hospitals in Illinois. Her youngest daughter, Carly is now staying with my other daughter Tina full time. They decided since Tammy can be, and has already been exposed, you never know if she may come down with the virus or pass it on. Tammy brought presents the other day and visited through the screen.

She brought lots of different treats, matching pajamas for the girls and of course …..”TOILET PAPER”….. Carly sure misses her momma, but she is also having fun with Miley and Austin. She is in the very good care of Aunt Tina.

This had to have been so hard on both of them. I’m sure their were tears. I know Carly wanted to run into Mamma arms…..But this is for the best for right now.

So Aunt Connie had to get into the act also. She brought the kids Dirt and Worms...Yum…Everyone loves them…

Of course DeeDee had to see Aunt Connie also.

These are the strangest times. Some strange and bazzar memories these kids will have. Theirs been nothing like this in our life times. In years to come when the kids read these blogs, they will remember these stories and how it felt. Sad Sad times we live in. But on the other hand, families are now spending much more time together. They are doing homework, playing games, going out for walks and eating together. So their is a lot of good also. They world is on pause. Maybe this will be a good thing and have lasting benefits for families.

The unemployment claims have doubled in a week. It is unheard of. The families are going to have such a hard time. Anyone in an non essential job is now laid off. They are all staying home. You can’t look for a job as their is none. The government has passed a 2 trillion dollar stimulus plan, that will provide money for everyone according to their tax filling of 2018 or 2019. A single will get $1200, couple $2400, and each child is $500. The checks should be Direct Deposit with in 3 weeks. That will help but not for long. The stimulus will also be helping out the small business owner and the Airlines. Their is much more that is being planned to help. But its going to be a Looooong Road…..So here we sit….Watching tv….Rich worked on the She-Shed again today. He put in some more shelving for my crafts. Only 2 shelves left and I’ll finish painting inside. But no sense doing it today…..Their is Tomorrow....Tonight, we will sit outside and enjoy a beautiful evening on the patio

It will be a Beautiful Evening…..Just like always….Tomorrow we will get up and do it over again….Thank God for ……RETIREMENT…..

9/11/2001 My Memories of That Fateful Day

September 11, 2017September 12, 2017w2bergen Leave a comment

Sept. 11 2001, will be a day most will always remember if they were alive that day. I sure do. It was the day that 19 members of the Islamic terrorist group, El Qaeda boarded 4 different airlines. They hi-jacked them and crashed them one by one on a suicide mission, killing 2,996 people, injured over 6,000 others, and caused at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage.

Second in a series of four. The second plane crashes into the World Trade Center.

That morning of 9/11, I went to work. Rich was off that day. We were having a sunroom addition put on that morning. He was going to stay home for the installation. I was working in the Pharmacy at Advantage Logistics. We were rather a small dept. at that time. Maybe 10 or 15, not really sure. We were expecting our supervisor Pam to come in. She wasn’t showing up. I’m not sure if I called her or she called first.

She said she couldn’t get away from the tv. I said, “What do you mean?” “A Plane just flew into the World Trade Center Tower in New York.” Wow, not really understanding what was going on, she said she would be in soon, and before we could hang up, she said…..”OMG, their goes another one into the other tower”. I think then the idea of something massive and evil was starting to form. I knew no one else knew what was going on. I believe I told several co-workers. Then on our next break, we had a plant wide meeting. It was conducted by our CEO Don. He was one of our best Ceos’ we ever had. He told everyone about the planes that had crashed into the World Trade Center. He said he would keep us informed as the day progressed as to what was happening.

010911-N-3031B-001 Arlington, Virginia (Sept. 11, 2001) -Ð Smoke and flames rise over the Pentagon at about 10 a.m. EST on Sep. 11, 2001, following a terrorist attack on the Pentagon in which terrorists hijacked a commercial airliner and crashed the plane into the side of the Pentagon. Part of the building collapsed while firefighters continued to battle the flames and look for survivors. The building was evacuated, as were the federal buildings in the Capitol area, including the White House. American Airlines FLT 77 was bound for Los Angeles from Washington Dulles with 58 passengers and 6 crew. All aboard the aircraft were killed, along with 125 people in the Pentagon. U.S. Navy Photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 2nd Class Lisa Borges (RELEASED)

Later we found out another plane also crashed into the Pentagon, and one more was heading back east and crashed in a field Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

At home the workers had come to put up the sunroom. Rich had left to do some errands. When he came home, the workers and him witnessed a large plane come down really low and circle around and head back to Chicago…..Now we are only 90 miles from Chicago but usually planes are on the way up to their flight path. They certainly don’t come down low and turn around. Rich went and turned the tv on and positioned it for the workers to watch as they put up the sunroom. It turns out all planes were grounded. They were instructed to go to the nearest terminal and land. The government was rightfully very worried. They didn’t know what was going on. How many more planes up their were being hi-jacked. How many more would be routed into Washington DC or New York. For 3 days, I believe the sky’s were void of planes. I remember how eerie it was. We were on the flight path into Chicago. We always saw and heard planes. The nites were really strange. You would look in the skys, and not a plane to be seen. No moving lights. No sounds. So Quiet. Not even the Hospitals Helicopter was allowed to fly. Finally after 3 days they resumed their flights, but security was stepped up massively.

I remember watching for days and days and even weeks. It had made such a huge impact on the country. Such a shock. Everyone was glued to the tv and watched the video play over and over. Two of the planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City.

Within an hour and 42 minutes, both 110-story towers collapsed, with debris and the resulting fires causing partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the World Trade Center complex, including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center tower, as well as significant damage to ten other large surrounding structures. People were in a panic. They were running for their lives. The day at the Trade Center had just begun and the buildings were full of people in their offices. The planes hit high, so the reports said the stairways were just full of people trying to get out. They were afraid of the elevators. The people above the floors where the planes crashed in were panicking.

Many of them were calling their family’s. Some knew it was probably the end and were saying their last good byes. It even got to the point that people were jumping. Their were many horror stories of people jumping 100 stories up. Little did anyone know that the towers would come tumbling down. It only took 1 hr and 42 minutes to bring down 2 110 story towers. They said the planes all had full fuel tanks that exploded on impact. The fire super heated the iron and finally, it all came tumbling down, pancaking onto each floor as it fell. As you watched it, it felt like a dream. Your mind just couldn’t encompass what was happening. The streets became a rolling cloud of ash.

Everyone was running for their lives. Their was a thick ash everywhere. I read where some people couldn’t out run it and ran into buildings or under cars to try to escape it. The ash turned out to be the buildings that pulverized as they came down. People were just covered with it.

All the rescue crews came in. Firetrucks, rescues vehicles, ambulances, and police departments. Some of the crews had parked near the bottom of the towers before they came down.

Rescue people climbed the stairs to the towers trying to rescue people who where trapped. Unfortunately, when the towers fell, many of them perished also. 9/11 was the single deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the history of the United States, with 343 and 72 killed respectively.

UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 11: Firefighters Todd Heaney and Frankie DiLeo, of Engine 209, carry injured firefighter from the rubble of the World Trade Center., (Photo by Todd Maisel/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

The searchers worked for hours and hours, days and weeks. The hospitals prepared for many patients. We all waited to see the patient count go up or the body count……..But it didn’t happen…..They just couldn’t find hardly any body’s from the towers. Turned out many of them were also pulverized when the building came down.

American Airlines Flight 11 was the first plane to crash at 8:46 into the North Tower at floors 93-99 killing all 92 people on board.

2. United Airlines Flight 175 was the second plane to crash at 9:02 into the South Tower at floors 75-85 killing all 65 people on board.

3. American Airlines Flight 77 was the 3rd plane to crash at 9:37 killing 59 aboard and 125 military and civilian personnel inside the Pentagon building.

4. 10:07 am – After passengers and crew members aboard the hijacked Flight 93 contact friends and family and learn about the attacks in New York and Washington, they mount an attempt to retake the plane. In response, hijackers deliberately crash the plane into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, killing all 40 passengers and crew aboard.

The Passengers were very brave on Flight 93. This was their way of protecting the country by sacrificing themselves and not let the terrorist achieve their goal. It was said later, they thought the plane was heading for the Capital in Washington DC. The flight impacted at 563 mph at a 40-degree nose-down, inverted attitude. The impact left a crater eight to ten feet deep , and 30 to 50 feet wide.

Suspicion quickly fell on El Qaeda. The United States responded by launching the War on Terror and invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, which had harbored El-Qaeda.

It took them until May of 2002 to finish the clean up of the Trade Center. Plans were made to rebuilt. The Pentagon was repaired within a year. On November 2006 the new construction began for the New Trade Center, and it was finished and open on November 3, 2014. A new National September 11 Memorial & Museum was built on Ground Zero, a Pentagon Memorial was also built, and out in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Flight 93 National Memorial was built in the field where it crashed .

We must never forget this day. Take nothing for granted. Appreciate our freedoms. Count our blessings. Reach out and help our neighbor. Cherish your family. We have a Great Country. We must never let anyone take that from us. Remember, all those people were innocent people who bought a ticket for an airline flight that day or simple went to work. Think of the terror during the last hour of their life. They didn’t deserve that. The people on Flight 93, died protecting our country. Lets continue to preserve our freedoms that we have. Educate our children and our future generations on what happened so it can NEVER happen again.

America is a Great Country…..Land of the Free….Home of the Brave

………….''AND LET THE FUN BEGIN''……………..

Our Diaries of Daily Life and Travel

New York City

Brittney is Home…NYC…Krucial Staffing….Coronavirus

Tammy Was Tested……She is Covid-19 FREE…….

Part 2…..Carrie in New York….Tammy’s Friend…..Coronavirus

..Please continue to follow all 3 girls while they finish out their stay in New York…

Part 1….Carrie in New York….Tammy’s Friend….Coronavirus

So Lets Follow her for her 21 days fighting Covid-19 in New York City

Day 12…..My Box Arrived…Tammy in New York….Coronavirus

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

Day 9……Tammy and Brittney in New York…Coronavirus

TODAY IS BRITTNEYS BIRTHDAY…..”HAPPY BIRTHDAY”

Today is Brittney’s Birthday…..Look at That those Masks……..Now that’s Classy…

”HAPPY BIRTHDAY”

Day 5….Tammy and Brittney in NY…Coronavirus

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

9/11/2001 My Memories of That Fateful Day

Tammy Was Tested……She is Covid-19 FREE…….

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..Please continue to follow all 3 girls while they finish out their stay in New York…

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So Lets Follow her for her 21 days fighting Covid-19 in New York City

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

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TODAY IS BRITTNEYS BIRTHDAY…..”HAPPY BIRTHDAY”

Today is Brittney’s Birthday…..Look at That those Masks……..Now that’s Classy…

”HAPPY BIRTHDAY”

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

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Last nite (April 1), we all joined the group “Let Their be Light”.

It will be a Beautiful Evening…..Just like always….Tomorrow we will get up and do it over again….Thank God for ……RETIREMENT…..

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