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Think about the people closest to you. Tell us about how the coronavirus has affected them, and their life.

<strong>This is myself (in the fighter pilot helmet) hugging my daughter who had been working as an ICU nurse with strictly COVID prone vented patients for 4-6 weeks straight.</strong> She was struggling with her work and her inability to socialize - see family and friends - and working 12 hour shifts 5 or 6 days per week. <strong>She was a new nurse</strong> (only been in ICU for 4 months <strong>when COVID hit).</strong> She has a passion for elderly and hospice care (she worked at the VA in step down care the year before). I was getting calls from her in the middle of the night crying and hysterical because <strong>she was profoundly sad that COVID patients were coming in talking and walking and then would be on vents within 24 hours.</strong> The idea of not having anyone with them when they were dying was tearing her apart. <strong>She was seeing patients her own age, her parents age</strong> as well as older patients. She was seeing <strong>a large portion</strong> of the patients being <strong>black and hispanic.</strong> She was literally operating in a <strong>'shock' mode.</strong> She was so worried about myself and my husband getting sick. I was so proud of her and worried for her own health and mental health but could do nothing other than face time and send her gifts. In this photo <strong>we met at a highway rest stop</strong> in Indiana (we <strong>each drove 2 hours</strong> to meet) and our family <strong>brought her the family dog to help with her sanity and be sure that she felt less alone </strong>in her Chicago apartment (which her roommate had moved out due to my daughter working strictly with COVID patients). <strong>Our dog stayed with her for 3 weeks and I truly believe that this saved her life (mentally at least).</strong> Her mood and ability to cope changed immediately. People need people (or dogs) and they need 'a reason to keep going and getting through the days'. <strong>Thanks for letting me share.</strong>

September 7, 2020

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