Many of these “heroes” came from Latin American and Caribbean countries. Today they are a vital part in a bitter chapter where death multiplies like never before, in the cold and congested emergency rooms of NYC
“Stay at home”, the health prevention order to put retaining walls to the coronavirus, has obviously been a meaningless message to thousands of essential workers, which operate 24 hours in the corridors of public and private hospital centers in New York City, the world epicenter of the pandemic.
The powerful infectious outbreak, It continues to strike a painful thrust in the five boroughs of the Big Apple since its appearance on March 1. But for health workers and their families, the challenge has been threefold: save lives, expose yourself like no one for hours to COVID-19, and take extreme hygiene measures to protect your family.
Many of these “heroes”, they came from Latin American and Caribbean countries, others were born here and achieved the desire of their immigrant families to see them become health professionals, that they are a vital part in a historical moment where crying and death multiply like never before, in the cold and congested emergency rooms.
In the more than 80 hospitals in the Big Apple, without counting community health centers and hundreds of primary care units, at this moment, thousands of workers are putting their shoulders and souls, to try to contain as much as possible the devastating effects of a virus that took hold in Hispanic families.
“The work of all of us who clean up is important here, so that the doctors can be comfortable in their area. Not to mention the nursing staff who have to care for up to 20 patients at the same time“, He says Lucy Paz, a Nicaraguan maintenance worker from a Hospital in Queens, the New York county most “hurt” by the pandemic.
The call that nobody wants to make
The most painful for Osbin Alvarado, 32, a Guatemalan-born family medicine doctor, It has been the high frequency with which he has had to communicate, by telephone, with relatives of mortal victims of the coronavirus, to give him the worst news that exists in the hospital act: “His mother, father, brother, grandfather or son has passed away.”
The Central American works as a resident at the Bronx Health Care, has experienced the ups and downs of the pandemic in New York City. And he has had to do that many times “Difficult call”, since COVID-19 began to punish New Yorkers.
“Although we are prepared, so that the evolution of the patients is not always satisfactory, in this case, from the beginning we experience a very high mortality rate. This implies a very different emotional scheme. Mourners cannot dismiss their relatives in a normal way ”, reviewed.
The doctor born in Huehuetenango, reasons that no hospital or medical group in the world was prepared to face the peculiarities of this pandemic.
“When you arrive at the consultation, you know that you are going to fight a different battle, with each patient. It is unpredictable, even for science, how COVID-19 will act. There are patients who come with acute respiratory symptoms and overcome it. Others only have fever and unfortunately die”, Reviewed.
The relief that they speak to you in Spanish
Alvarado, who took up the challenge, for 3 years, of emigrating to the Big Apple to pursue his personal challenge of working as a resident in a hospital center, is hardly one of the many Hispanic “soldiers” who have put all their knowledge and efforts to save lives.
“In my area of care we have received hundreds of Hispanic patients. Without a doubt, the most affected by this virus. In many cases, It is a relief to them when they meet healthcare workers who speak their own language. The interaction is different, they feel less pressured ”, he comments.
This doctor graduated from the University of San Carlos de Guatemala, managed to validate his academic studies in this country, in the midst of great difficulties.
“You must start from scratch, study a lot again, but this experience will leave a lot of pain to those of us who have worked in emergencies in this city, too it is a crucial moment to value life more “concludes.
“There will be many sequels”
The Dominican clinical psychologist Julia Bello, 58, Since the coronavirus began to descend as a destructive force for Hispanic families in New York, the Bronx resident has been on the front line of care, in one of the most complicated corners that this crisis has triggered: emotional health
As a member of the New York City Suicide Prevention Unit Hotline and volunteer for psychological support to various unions, she has observed with great caution a situation of collective panic and anxiety, of which medical and hospital staff do not escape.
“This pandemic and its implications have shocked us all. And to us as health workers who see this emergency, which seems to have no end, We must achieve emotional control, very intense, every day, “he said.
The guild of doctors in the Big Apple lost one of its members in the midst of the pandemic, but not because it succumbed to COVID-19, but because of the emotional fatigue he faced in a city emergency.
It was painful news when it emerged that Dr. Lorna Breen, who was director of emergencies at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in Manhattan, committed suicide after confessing to his relatives that “I couldn’t bear to see so many people die. ”
“That fact generated a red flag in our guild. She suffered exhausting stress. It has been a clear example of the risks involved in sudden changes in people’s lives. In many cases, hospital staff complete very long hours, marked by tension from the growing number of patients, with great fear, crying out to save their lives, “he explained.
In the face of Dr. Breen’s extreme decision, a kind of professional conscience was created in the city’s guild, to avoid at all costs that the emotional fatigue typical of these times, continue to lead health workers to disproportionate decisions.
“Almost informally and spontaneously, we have created support groups through our telephone contacts. The message is very clear: if you feel very depressed emotionally, take a break ”, explained the psychotherapist.
“Suicidal ideation has increased”
This psychology professional, graduated from Long Island University, born in Santo Domingo and 32 years old residing in the Big AppleHe does not deny that he is personally affected by the “collective grief and panic” that exists in the Latino communities of the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Its main area of action.
“We receive no less than 50 calls a day, because I have made my phone available to my people, 24 hours a day. Judging by the number of people who use our services, it is not difficult to conclude, that the idea of suicide has increased alarmingly “Bello said.
The Quisqueyan immigrant also works as advises in the sexual assault unit of the Jacobi and Lincoln Hospitals.
“We are on the street, as well as volunteering with the Bronx food banks, where through Erangel Church, food is distributed to the elderly, who are the most vulnerable in this circumstance“
Bello notes that behind this pandemic there will be an emotional sequel in the city that is difficult to erase, both for medical care personnel and for society in general.
The psychoanalyst describes that the changes for our communities, especially immigrants, were very violent, because thousands of people were left overnight, without money, without work and with the dread of suffering from this new disease.
“But for us, the healthcare personnel, to see such a disproportionate tragedy so closely it will take a long time to return to our emotional routine“Sentence.
Witness to the fragility of life
He is completing the second year of internal medicine at the Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn and it has corresponded to him to live for long hours the rigors and the demand that has imposed the ascent in number of suspicious and confirmed patients of coronavirus. It’s about the Dominican doctor, Nicole de León, 30, who has lived in the Big Apple for two years.
“It has been a very particular experience. I have witnessed the fragility of life and especially how weak our Hispanic community is, who suffers from many co-morbidities and diseases associated with their quality of life, ”says León.
The medical professional, she claims to feel lucky to be in the midst of this public health emergency, being part of the team, which is in the first line of risk in hospital centers
“In addition, it has given me great satisfaction that being bilingual is a point of support for hundreds of patients, who many times due to language barriers, it is impossible for him to comply with basic instructions, because they do not understand English. ”
Many times not understanding the details of an indication, amidst the strain of an infection that is life threatening, It can be the difference between living and dying.
The Caribbean doctor, who has watched her work for the past eight weeks go by, among very low-income patients who must face a disease that is still not fully understood by the scientific community, He affirms that he has a double commitment: to take care of his family.
“I haven’t seen my dad since January, who has pre-existing health pictures and staying away from him, is my best way to protect him right now. It is part of the task we have as doctors, “he concluded.
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