We’ve always protected the community — I mean, with our very best knowledge, resource capacity, skill. With our spiritual, mental, emotional, physical strengths and capabilities. And with that, at times, there has been a cost; to ourselves/our safety/our health. (Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) You see, we don’t just show up, as humans in white lab coats and certain color scrubs to the hospital. As a matter of fact, those in white coats are often out of touch with the day to day. They’re not aware of the machine running in the background. The minor and major injuries happening to staff. The staff that come sick to work — yes, even encouraged to do so, in a Pandemic — and pre pandemic. Folks in the lab, their desks, in these tiny boxes — I will say this more loudly ∆ There is Nuance. And parts unknown. There is not a one size fits all to this global health crisis or any. There is, as a puzzle – many moving, and nonlinear parts • pieces.
There are humans well intentioned and with great compassion for our communities’ health everyday on the “front lines.” They have worked hard,(some, for 20-30 years)put their career before family, keep this career to feed their families, pay someone’s bail, place others’ health before their very own. I have worked with colleagues on chemo, with breast pumps attached to their nipples, in their own personal crisis’s, that need two jobs, that are in financial and other personal strain. Our patients are not aware of these beautiful messy humans taking care for them, well, because they trust – our badges and certain color scrubs.
Here’s the thing, maybe we should be aware that things are messy – right now. And kinda always are. This is why the hero thing is so fucked up. Maybe people should know that you’re a hero one day – and the next a number : asked to do overtime today and a leave of absence tomorrow. Maybe people should know, there are different ways. Better, I don’t know. But different. We’ve got some big shake ups coming, my friends. It’s time to recognize, we need each other – across the whole spectrum. Varying views, dialogue, information, specialties and stories.
In Health,
H.
Medicinal Conversations 