I am deeply disturbed by how people comment on issues regarding our healthcare teams. Spreading news that is not true is injustice. They have the full right to comment if they had been in our situation. Instead of sympathy, we mostly hear biases. How can a person get Covid-19 virus from a mere swab test? We sterilise our instrument and seriously handle the results given. If the result is positive, it is because the person lack the proper steps to protect himself. How can people blame the kits for giving them a positive result?
The frontliners are exhausted with work and if there are delays, please do not blame them as they are not robots. They too can get tired and some were even infected. Do bear with us as we are doing our best. It is not just your life that is at stake. If you are exposed to one positive patient, we are exposed to far more. We have a hundred fold of anxiety compared to yours.
Some moan about a single mask worn for minutes because they cannot breathe. But they do not bother to ask us how we feel. We usually wear a N95 mask and two surgical masks for a minimum of one hour. Although we are paid to work, we should work just like normal human beings. But, in this pandemic we are serving an extra mile. We did not ask to work in hell and make these outfits our fashion statements. Sorry if I am emotional, but did you hear us speak up like this on normal days? NOPE!!! We long for simple clothes which give a chance for our skin to breath.
Some get angry because they are told to do quarantine. But how about us? We rarely have time to spend with our families as our routine goes: work… quarantine… swab…quarantine… We get so so lucky when we have a day or two for free!
I am a medical technologist and a respiratory therapist. I can see the truth at work. I seek help by asking all of you to do your share of spreading love instead of hate. Some frontliners died for a cause. Their life is as essential as yours.
On the other hand, we never ask to be called “heroes.” We can’t be called one because there is no victory. And this invisible war is not over. Maybe, when this ends, we will all be called champions. And the championship will not only to be given to us … not just us … but also to a vital human being — YOU.
Michelle De La Cruza
