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bonding
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2020-12-20
Declaring Patient 100 Deceased Life as a NYC EMT During an Unprecedented Global Pandemic
December 20th, 2020, started as an “ordinary” day for myself and my colleagues. 1600 hours rolled around, and my partner and I clocked in for our sixteen-hour tour. We had finally adjusted to our new routine of working a mandatory sixteen hours as opposed to twelve. As emergency medical technicians, we were at the forefront of the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City. Our region was hit hard by COVID-19 and seemed to be the epicenter of the pandemic for longer than one could ever imagine. For NYC EMS workers before the pandemic, it was common to see around three thousand calls for service daily across all five boroughs. Once the pandemic struck the call volume rapidly overwhelmed the city's EMS resources as they answered a record seven thousand calls for service daily. My partner and I made small talk as we awaited the arrival of the outgoing crew. The day shift arrived back at the station exhausted, defeated, and depressed. They informed us that during their sixteen-hour tour, they had answered twenty calls for service; fifteen of which were for critically ill patients. After some small talk, we exchanged medication kits and radios as it was our turn to serve the great city. Immediately after logging on to the computer system and giving the dispatch center an in-service signal, we were called for a priority one assignment. Our unit was called to the scene of a thirty-two-year-old mother diagnosed with COVID-19 who had stopped breathing. As we arrived at the scene, I donned my four-day-old n95 mask, as well as a makeshift gown made from a garbage bag with holes cut for my head and arms. As we made our way up the five flights of stairs the sound of the screams grew louder. We entered the apartment to find a woman lying on the couch who was clinically deceased. For the next forty-five minutes, my partner and I worked feverishly to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillation, endotracheal intubation, as well as intravenous cardiac drug administration. Despite our efforts, the patient continued to show no signs of life, my partner and I locked eyes and nodded at one another, knowing we had done all that we possibly could have for this patient. I switched the cardiac monitor off and looked down at my watch as I said, “Time of death 1705 hours”. Our next responsibility was to inform the patient’s husband and children of her passing. While you train for many hours to show empathy after death, this task never gets easier. My partner sat in the kitchen with the family, while I prepared the paperwork for a death pronouncement. My partner delivered the life-shattering news and did her best to console a grieving family. After returning to our ambulance to decontaminate our equipment and restock for the next assignment I opened my logbook to record the death encounter. My heart sank as I turned to the next open page which was page number one hundred. In less than one year, I had pronounced one hundred patients deceased from COVID-related illnesses. In my short career before the pandemic, I had only pronounced about fifteen patients deceased. It was at that moment that the true magnitude of the pandemic sank in. COVID-19 had decimated the way of New York City life, the previously bustling city remained shuttered as many remained in indoors in hopes of preventing illness. Before the pandemic, I had known the city as a connection of vibrant neighborhoods filled with culture and joy. COVID-19 had robbed our great city of its life and color; for the next two years, the city appeared black and white as a shell of its previous greatness. These thoughts quickly fled my mind as my unit was once again called to another high-priority assignment. We were called to a sixteen-year-old man diagnosed with asthma, who had recently contracted COVID-19 and was struggling to breathe. Our days were filled with assignments like these, often with no rest, and zero opportunities for a meal break. Nearly one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, my colleagues and I were exhausted, and our mental health and morale were at an all-time low. Many of my collogues fell ill, and four of them died because of COVID-19. We had often asked ourselves and one another; “Why Us? Why are we still doing this job? and when will this end?” While these times were challenging, we understood that we had been called to work in EMS because of our passion for caring for those in need. Day in and day out, we found strength and resilience in one another. My colleagues and I had implemented daily peer support groups in which all were welcome to come and speak about their experiences. While COVID-19 seemed to pull the world apart, it pulled EMS staff closer together. Enemies quickly became friends, and seemingly overnight we all became family. Our perspectives were unique as we were the only healthcare providers to enter the homes of the ill, and feverishly worked to care for them under less-than-ideal conditions. As the number of COVID-19 cases began to decline with the introduction of the vaccine, my colleagues and I felt we could breathe a sigh of relief. As quickly as the pandemic entered our great city, it seemed to vanish even faster. Each shift brought hope as we watched businesses reopen, and the streets were once again filled with color and culture. While we experienced new variants and spikes in COVID-19 cases, we felt that our great city had become stronger and more resilient. While COVID has changed our way of life, one thing I will never forget is the comradery we built amongst the emergency medical services personnel. To this day my colleagues remain a second family in which I can confide after a difficult shift. While COVID was one of the greatest challenges faced by New York City, I feel that it has made us stronger and more resilient than ever. -
2020-03-31
Covid: My Experience in the Pandemic
Covid: My Experience in the Pandemic The pandemic was an unforgettable experience for my family, as well as countless others. During a time of struggle, we faced many unforeseen challenges that were somewhat difficult for our developing minds to comprehend. Not to mention, the greater the understanding, the greater our issue seemed to be. However, in a time of dread, it became a blessing eventually. In the beginning, it was more of an adjusting period. The idea of quarantine rocked our worlds as we could no longer be out and about. Attempting to find creative solutions seemed challenging, which led us to free meals from different businesses attempting to be of service. Not to mention, on Sundays, we were unable to go to church. However, this soon became a blessing as we began doing “church at home”, which quickly led to a strong family bond. Around the middle of covid, things became slightly easier. We were beginning to adapt to the challenges presented to us. We began working with our neighbors’ family to complete online school, which formed an unbreakable bond with them as well. The grandmother of the house made everything go smoothly, and she supported us over the years. Moreover, in previous years, she would work with my siblings and I to ensure our success in academics. Finally, the end of covid felt like the worst. The transition back to school was not without its tribulations. Others like me had lost their sense of self, acting irrationally. In the midst of it all, the grandmother of our neighbor's family caught covid. Unfortunately, she didn't make it. It took a long time, but we came to terms with it and we were truly blessed to have met her and blessed because she was a chapter in our lives. In conclusion, my family as well as my neighbors’ felt the challenges of covid. However, instead of separating us, covid (ironically) brought us closer together than ever before. From bad to blessed, from terrible to terrific, a great tragedy ended up being a valuable experience. In the end, I'm thankful for covid shaping my character and strengthening my loved ones. -
2020-04
Getting Our Time Back
The Covid-19 Pandemic was a hard time for everyone. People were sick, out of work, losing loved ones, and going through several other mental and physical health problems. However, we also had a lot of time on our hands during the pandemic, and my family took the as the perfect opportunity to bond. During the pandemic, we spent a lot of time together, we would paint, talk, watch movies, play games, basically anything we could do get together. This gave me the chance to grow closer with my family during a hard time and I really cherish the time we spend together. . -
April 8th, 2020
Find the positive in the negative
Its a message to viewers to get closer with your family while in lockdown as a positive while going through a tough time -
2020-12-10
Lumpia During COVID-19 Shutdown
This picture is when my roommates and I cooked lumpia in St. George, Utah, and classes were all moved online during the shutdown. We ended up with a lot of time on our hands during the shutdown, and we decided to cook and bake our favorite recipes, and lumpia was one of them. While COVID-19 changed our educational experience, it also changed our eating habits because we used to depend on ordering food a lot that we hardly used our shared kitchen in our dorm room together. This was one of my favorite memories with my roommates because, through food, we were able to spend more time preparing recipes, cooking them, and eating them together, unlike before. While COVID shut down everything, it gave us more time to bond together as roommates through food. -
2021-09-21
Haig and Tia Oral History, 2021/09/21
I think it's really important to document everyday life during the pandemic because soon everyone will forget what it was like. -
2020-11-24
Life lessons
Before covid happened I never got to experience the holidays just with my family. It was always cousins and other family but I was never to close to mine. when covid happen I started to bond more with my family and really learned the true value of family because they stick with you through all the hard times that we may need to conquer. -
2021-02-02
The Dog Days of the Pandemic
Teleworking due to the pandemic has resulted in a closer bond between me and my dog, who seems to be thrilled that I'm home all day to pay attention to him and has shared his joy with me to help me get through these dark days. -
2020-08-13
Fires With Family
With social distancing measures out in place when having gatherings, it is difficult to spend time with family and friends. During the pandemic, my distant family members and I decided to light a fire in the firepit located in my backyard with 6 feet in between us. We talked about what each of us have been doing during quarantine and ate delicious food made by others. This fire pit was used multiple times during the pandemic but for the same reasons. The only downfall of using this firepit for visits is that it can only be used in the warmer weather. I feel as though this photo is a necessity for a covid-19 collection. It shows what families go through to be near each other in this part of the country/world. -
2020-08-05
Immediate-Family-Only Pandemic Wedding
This is a picture from my sister’s wedding from August 2020. When she first got engaged no one could have predicted that there would be a global pandemic some months later. Instead of waiting for next year they decided to hold a small ceremony that only the immediate family would be invited to. They decided to make a fun time out of it and had both families rent houses on location to quarantine together for a week before the ceremony. We brought enough food for the week and stayed isolated from the town and any other visitors. It was like a mini pandemic-vacation with both immediate families able to bond while quarantining before the ceremony. I enjoyed the time we got to spend with family more than the stress that would have come from planning and executing a larger wedding that simply wasn’t possible anytime soon because of the pandemic. The ceremony itself was very intimate and special and our dad even got a marriage license online so that he could officiate. We chose a random spot and everyone helped by packing the chairs out there and taking them back with us. It was neither formal nor completely casual. All of the sisters got to help make a small little cake the night before and we had it with our lunch back at the rental houses. I almost wish my husband and I had done something similar for our wedding three years earlier. I hope more couples will consider a smaller intimate on-location ceremony in the future. It’s less stress, less money, but still very special. My sister and her husband are planning to hold two receptions next year at each of the parents’ houses for extended family and friends. -
2020-05-31
The Introverted Side of Me Is Happy
This quarantine experience so far has left me with many mixed emotions. Seeing and spending time with my family everyday allowed me to grow closer to them, but at the same time, it can be annoying sometimes. School closure was one of the many results of the pandemic. Online learning is rough, there is no interaction with teachers or classmates, but it has taught me to manage my time better. I miss seeing my teachers and hanging out with my friends. But, during this quarantine period, I was able to catch up on TV shows and spend countless hours watching anime. I also have time to get fit and develop useful skills like cooking, or simply just adopting a new hobby. I may miss my friends a lot, but I now have time to spend time with my family and work on improving myself and also watch a lot of Netflix. I also developed a tiktok addiction, which isn't healthy. -
2020-05-06
Keeping Busy
When in quarantine, you try to find anything to do to keep yourself occupied considering were not allowed to see any friends or go out. Online school takes up a good portion of the day starting at 9 but really depending on when your teachers post the school work. Working on the computer a lot can strain your eyes so it's best to take a break to do something else once in a while. Now is a great time to learn new talents like baking, cooking, practicing a sport, singing, drawing, etc. Journaling has been a great way for me to just relax and express what I'm feeling. Whether it's just drawing simple lettering, looking at ideas on Pinterest, or even coming up with my own ideas and trying to challenge myself. It's sometimes best to not spend all your time sitting on your phone and watching TV the entire day. Also, there is now more time to spend and bond with your family which is always nice to do. Quarantine has really given us the time to remember to never take things for granted and to always live in the moment. -
2020-04-28
Lines at the lake
This quarantine is something we're all not used to. The inside has been interesting , but I have found another childhood memory to revisit. Fishing! This week I have knocked the dust off the old fishing rods and hit the lake. It's a great place to bond with your family and get some fresh air! We are still taking safety precautions as well, but it has been great. The view, fresh air, and outside bonding time has been much needed. I have caught a few things but as I'm revisiting a childhood memory I'm also visiting a childhood fear! Getting the fishes off the hook. Still afraid of the slimy things but it has been a time well spent. -
2020-04-10
Abstract Art
This pandemic is limiting our choices of what to do in the outside world. My family and I are running out of things to do and it's driving us insane. We are usually an adventurous family so during this quarantine, it has allowed us to be creative. I love art and I've had time to indulge in it again. This time my family decided to join me. We had been binge-watching abstract art a little while before trying it. It was messy but, this is what we created. This was the perfect bonding time and it was really fun. Quarantine has brought out our inner artist!