“I don’t want to use artificial respiration. Save it for younger patients. I already had a good life
2020 will forever be known as a year filled with heartbreak. We started off the year almost getting into World War 3, Australia was blazing with wildfires, we lost the inspiring soul of Kobe Bryant, and now the world has been hit with a mysterious disease we’re now calling “Covid-19”. Though it’s only April it feels as if we’ve lived an entire year, or more, in just four months. We’ve had so many tragedies recently that some people are convinced this may be the end of the world. For those who have contracted Covid-19, or have loved ones who did, it very well could be the end for them. According to worldometers.info, there have been 73,842 deaths, and 1,329,876 cases worldwide. With this immense number of cases, hospitals are scrambling to get the resources they need in order to save these innocent people.
New York City hospitals, along with hospitals in Italy, are being hit by this pandemic hard. In New York, the biggest problem being faced right now is the lack of resources, mainly ventilators. These devices are a huge life saving resource for patients being affected by Covid-19, as it hits the respiratory system severely. The device provides oxygen to patients who find it hard to breath on their own. However, as the amount of patients increases, the amount of ventilators have decreased drastically. Health care professionals are panicking as patients' lives rest in their hands.
Across the globe in Italy, hospitals are being filled with teary-eyed Covid-19 patients, not allowed to see their families and in some cases, say their final goodbyes. The Atlantic states that, as of March 26th, “All 900 were occupied with patients suffering from complications of the virus” (1). Health care workers are geared up from head to toe in masks and suits, presenting themselves as something from a Sci-fi movie. But in reality, they’re just human beings trying to protect themselves from a rather unearthly disease.
Though times are incredibly tough right now, many people have come together to provide a light at the end of the tunnel. The human race is starting to unite to provide the resources the hospitals are missing. Celebrities such as Ryan Reynolds, are using their fame to gather donations. He stated through Twitter that when people donated certain amounts of surgical masks, gloves, chemo gowns, and other items, he would send an autographed item, personalized video, and even said he would “raise your children as if they were my own” (Reynolds 1). Meanwhile others, such as Demi Lovato are donating money gained from their popular brands (Fabletics, in her case). Lovato has pledged to donate up to 125,000 dollars to support the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization.
Even large businesses are donating money and resources from their companies as well. For example, Ford has recently donated 3,000 face shields to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Along with that, the CEO of Texas Roadhouse, Wayne Kent Taylor, is giving up his bonus and salary to pay for the salaries of workers who are out of their job right now. With powerful people and companies coming together to help out and provide resources to those in need, it’s important to remember that there is still hope.
Every day, nurses, doctors, and every other health professional members, are sacrificing themselves to help fight off this disease. They go to work every day knowing they could catch this disease or bring it home to their families. They’re working tirelessly on their feet every single day saving lives.
Along with that, patients themselves are sacrificing their own lives to save others. 90 year old Suzanne Hoylaerts selflessly gave up the opportunity of having her own ventilator, stating, “‘I don’t want to use artificial respiration. Save it for younger patients. I already had a good life’” (boston25news.com 1). Her sacrifice gave hope and a higher survival rate to another patient. Suzanne is known as a worldwide hero for this act.
Anyone can help fight off Covid-19, even during quarantine. One act of resistance towards this disease comes in the form of donations. Donating blood, masks, food, and money to the places below could help a neighbor during this hard time. At this moment, everybody is everybody’s neighbor, we could all use each other’s help and love to get through this.
Donations can be made to:
-The Licking County Health Department
-Ohio’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security
-OhioHealth
-St. Vincent de Paul, 945 S. Edwin C. Moses Dr.