Staff, patients, and families from Newton Wellesley Hospital share how they grew stronger during the pandemic. A pediatric worker praises children's resilience, a nurse describes colleagues as family, and Errol Norwitz thanks everyone for their contributions over the past year.
As soon as I wake up every day, it's a smile for me. There's a lot of people that would like to be here, but they not. It's a huge deal. If you can wake up every day, you can smile and make someone else smile, I think you're having a great day.
There's a lot of hope, a lot of real positive things that have come out of this pandemic in the past year, and we've developed some personal inner strength. We've been tested, if you like, and I I think for everyone, they've come through the other end a little bit stronger than they were before.
Following the pandemic, I suffered a neck injury and I was blessed enough to have really good surgeon to perform a very quick surgery on me so that I could resume my happiness and my well-being. I am super grateful to know that that was my own team that took care of me. These nurses down here at the OSC were nurses that actually worked alongside me as I worked in the ICU. It just seems surreal to be able to actually work beside them again. I'm grateful for that.
I have seen coworkers really, really look out for each other in a way that is almost indescribable. I've been a patient here for over 20 years. My dad was also a patient here at the Cancer Center. My son was born here 3 and a half years ago, so I am indescribably grateful for the care that I've received here and for the care that my own family has received here.
I feel really lucky to work at this hospital. The kids are They're so funny, they crack me up, and I think I probably laugh more at my job than most people. Even with all of the disruptions over the last 18 months, they are resilient and they are still having fun, and I think resilience is something that I constantly am learning from working with the children. I feel grateful that I've had the opportunity to grow more than I ever thought that I could.
I actually started here in nursing school. Now I'm married, I have two kids, so I kind of feel like I've grown up here. My coworkers here are my family. They're my backup. They're my right hand. When I come here with my kids and I'm walking through the hallway, people will say hi, and my kids are always amazed. They're like, "You always seem to know somebody." It really does feel like a family.
You feel very supported. No matter what, at the end of the day, you're always there for each other, which feels very safe here. It's a safe spot.
Family means everything. If you lose a piece of your family, it's like you lose a piece of yourself. Everybody cares for each other here. To me, This is our family.
I'd like to reach out to each and every one of you, from myself, from my family, and from the Newton Wellesley family, for everything that you've done the past year to help support us. Thank you.
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