For a lot of us, life has dramatically changed this year because of Covid-19. I’m no exception to that.
Before the pandemic
I’m an occupational therapist in a readaptation center. I work with kids with a disability to help them be more functional with their activities. The kids I see are aged from 6 months old to 17 years old with a wide range of disabilities. I have some kids that have little to no motor control and I need to adapt their position and environment for their wheelchair while I have other kids that you wouldn’t know they have a disability as they just seem clumsy (ex: developmental coordination disorder). Every day, I would go to work and find fun activities to help them write, cut, eat or event wiping their tushies.
Quarantine time
As the quarantine began, I was sent back home and was told to wait for further instruction. On April 14th, the tables turned as the Primer of Quebec declared the state of emergency in our long term care facilities. The death toll continued to climb at an alarming rate with our elderly people and unfortunately, they were greatly understaffed. On April 17th, I’ve received the awaited phone call: I was being relocated to a long term care facility. Quite a change from my usual clients!! I won’t lie, I was scared to death as I was waiting to know where I would finally go…
Learning new skills
I had a formation to learn what would be my new task and how to wear protective equipment. Then, I was relocated to a long term care facility, the CHSLD Drapeau-Deschambault, for the night shift. Goodbye regular schedule, now I have a rotation schedule, working a weekend out of 2. I’m working in the red zone, meaning we have elderly people who tested positive for the Covid-19.
I’m no longer an occupational therapist at work right now. I’m helping the beneficiary attendant for their tasks (cleaning people, transferring them to bed, feed them etc). Some nights, we are greatly understaffed and we are running everywhere while other nights, it’s more relax and we have some time to chat. I’m grateful because I’m working with incredible people and they’re just happy to have an extra pair of hands to help them. I’m no longer scared to go to work. I’m being more used to my new tasks and I’m happy to make a difference in such a difficult time.
I don’t know when I’ll be able to go back to my normal job, but for now, it’s okay, I’ll continue to help as much as I can!!
Thanks for sharing your experience as a healthcare profession.
The professionals like you are taking high risk also pitong your life in risk just for society. A great respect from me. Very sad to see viral images on social media that healthcare member sleeping on floor , putting mask a long time and injured there face. It is really heart touching.
We are considering healthcare professionals as an Angel.
@Shemeem thank you so much for your kind words. It’s true we are taking risk but all we want to do, is to help them. It’s always nice though when people are grateful for our work, it gives a sense to our actions
@Melissa_Langlois thank you for sharing this very personal story.
These are very difficult times indeed and I am glad to read that you were able to adapt and be happy with the opportunity to make a difference to people that really need it.
Respect!
Warm greetings and a virtual hug and a BIG thank you for what you do for others.
Thanks for being you @Melissa_Langlois and sharing what you are doing now at working in the frontlines as a healthcare professional. You are making a great impact with all your patients.
Thanks for sharing your experience @Melissa_Langlois . I work with doctors, nurses and health practisioners at hospital run by NGO . I see the challenges that come with looking after a patient , the fustration at times ,the risk of infection .
In our hospital , we just constructed an isolation ward for COVID-19 , to us in management , we have done our part. It is left for the medicals to go and face the virus , should we have our first case.
Medical profession is job that involves a lot personal sacrifice
What a whirlwind series of events to lead you to your current situation now, @Melissa_Langlois - I thank you for taking the call to action to serve your community and country. It is very inspirational to hear you pivot entirely to provide care and services to support the pandemic. Best of wishes and continue being safe!
To me, generally those people who are working in health care and similar systems are admirable a lot.
specially in these sever situation …so please accept my appreciation and dont give up (in fact I am sure you wont )…our world need many, many more people like you…thank you, thank you, thank you
