I remember watching the news as I got ready for work and hearing about a virus spreading in another country. At the office, I listened as people talked about it and would often interject what I was thinking….we are connected, this will be here soon. Sooner came faster than we were prepared for, we were sent home with laptops, children sent home from school, empty the streets and close the shops, we were all in quarantine.

Fear came with the unknown. People stocked piled toilet paper, food, cleaning supplies and masks. Businesses pivoted where they could and others closed. We watched the numbers on the news ticker increase while as it slid across the screen announcing the latest number of infections and even worse, deaths. We did our best to find comfort in the idea of being safe at home. Distracted ourselves with projects, sourdough bread and finally having time to do that project while we quietly imploded from the solitude that Zoom could not ease. Families lost jobs, students became homeschoolers, parents became teachers, everyone was sinking into depression, anxiety and despair. Covid-19 has arrived.

Day after day optimism waned as stories flooded the news, social media and our own families detailing the true horror of the virus that has been upgraded to a pandemic. As Covid-19 continued to ignore boarders it ravaged countries, states, towns, communities and families. In all of this, there were people on the front lines who faced it boldly and didn’t leave their posts. Janitors, clerks, market workers, delivery drivers and hospital workers left their families to provide a service. They risked their lives for ours with no expectation of reward. Doing what they can to keep their own families safe like sleeping in the driveway or not coming home at all.

Then there were the hospital workers. Day after day I would hear their stories and listen to their hearts. Not only were they struggling with availability of personal protective gear to keep them safe from contracting this vicious virus, they provided medical attention and acts of human kindness to maintain the dignity of the people they were treating. I am reminded of the images of healthcare providers brushing the hair and caring for their patients in a way that family couldn’t because visitors weren’t allowed. They endured long days and longer nights fighting this virus, fighting to save lives. They persevered through seeing death daily, ventilator shortages amidst their own anxiety, depression, loneliness and fatigue.

There are many heroes without capes that have endured loss and suffered during this pandemic. To our hospital workers, we want to hear from you. If you are a hospital worker (doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, aids, nutritionists, sanitizers, technicians…etc.) who is willing to participate in an interview, we would like to talk to you. Click here to contact us and we will schedule a time that is convenient for you as we take time to hear….what’s under YOUR Brim.