The Silent Partner on the Front Line during the Pandemic

By DeLoise Gambrell


A Respiratory Therapist is the other professional in the trenches, and on the frontline risking their lives alongside the doctors and nurses who are keeping patients alive who have contracted COVID-19. Oftentimes we do not hear about Respiratory Therapists, they’re the silent partners in this fight to heal the patients stricken with CoronaVirus. It is my intention in this article to educate those who are unaware of the role of the Respiratory Therapist and to say thank you for all that you're doing for your patients.


The CoronaVirus is a respiratory disease, which affects the upper respiratory and lower respiratory tracts. The nose, sinus, and throat are part of the upper tract, and the windpipe and lungs make up the lower tract. COVID-19 can cause Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome or ARDS. It causes damage to the lungs such as scarring. This damage causes fluid to leak into the lungs making it difficult for oxygen to transfer from the bloodstream.


Through a questionnaire, I had the opportunity to ask several Respiratory Therapists questions about what is a Respiratory Therapist, their role, and to help us understand what it means to be on the frontline during this CoronaVirus Pandemic. They also answered questions about what they want the general public and elected leaders to know about the seriousness of the virus. Finally, I wanted to know how they de-escalated from the day to day routine and seeing the growing numbers of deaths from COVID-19.


A Respiratory Therapist, RT, is a certified medical professional that provides specialized care to help patients with chronic cardio-pulmonary illnesses. Many have associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees in respiratory care. Their role is to work in collaboration, as part of the patient’s team, alongside nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers to treat, care, and help improve the patient’s outcome. They administer respiratory medication, operate ventilators, and review and test the patient’s lung capacity, among other duties. The use of a ventilator helps to get more oxygen into the bloodstream.


I asked what made these dedicated professionals decide to become Respiratory Therapists? The majority agreed it was their desire to help people suffering from cardio-respiratory illnesses, and the ability to save lives. One question asked, what does it mean to be an RT during the COVID-19 pandemic? The overwhelming answer was scary, yet rewarding. One RT said it was the most unexpected, scary, and very demanding time in their life. Another RT answered it’s unbelievable, and heartbreaking to not be able to do as much as you can to save a life. Sadly, the answer to this question by one brave RT said it meant being there for a patient who is ill and without family present.


I wanted to know the emotional, physical, and mental issues that they faced during this time. Many answered watching patients die, especially without family. They all agree that staff shortage and long working hours caused physical exhaustion. Another question put to them was how do you as an RT prepare yourself mentally each day before work in such an environment? They responded praying, listening to music, just do it, and happy to see their dedicated co-workers beside them. Others responded making sure they take proper precautions, and most importantly to eat well and take care of themselves so that they can be effective in doing their jobs. I asked what do they do to deescalate after their shift? Some answered that they relax by hiking, counting their blessings, listening to music, spending time with family, and reading.


I inquired about what they wanted the general public or elected leaders to know about the virus. The majority said to take this virus more seriously, to educate yourselves about the virus, stop making it political, and follow the CDC’s recommendations.


I want to end this article with a thank you and a word from Tosha Lawson, a Respiratory Therapist whom I had the pleasure of speaking to in a telephone interview. She agreed to share her thoughts about being an RT during the early stages of this pandemic. “This pandemic is scary for everyone involved, patients, family, and health care workers. We, as Respiratory Therapists, do everything we possibly can for our patients. We never neglect any patient even though we are afraid of the virus, and its uncertainties. A typical day would start with a shift of 8-9 therapists, geared up in bunny suits, N95’s, face shields, head, and shoe coverings. We see every patient and do everything required as a respiratory therapist. This is our job, and we do the best that we can as dedicated RT’s.”


To the silent partners on the frontline, saying thank you doesn’t seem sufficient enough to express our sentiments for what you are doing to save lives. Thank you for sharing your experiences and educating us about what you do, and how you are doing it.   BE SAFE

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AS WE ENTER INTO THIS SEASON OF THANKSGIVING, ADVENT, AND CHRISTMAS; IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR ATTITIUDES AND HOW THEY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO BE GRATEFUL OR SHALL I SAY DEMONSTRATE GRATITUDE.

            THE YEAR 2020 WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THE COIVD-19 PANDEMIC, FOR THE OVER 11 MILLION LIVES AFFECTED BY A DEADLY VIRUS AND OVER 250,000 SOULS LOST DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND THAT IS JUST IN THE UNITED STATES.  DUR THE PANDEMIC WE HAVE HAD TO LEARN NEW NORMS: QUARENTINE, STAYING SIX FEET APART/SOCIAL DISTANCING, WEARING A MASK, AND TO WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY.  WE NO LONGER HUG, SHAKE HANDS, PARTICIPATE IN LARGE GATHERINGS; BUT THAT IS ONLY IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS PANDEMIC IS REAL.
          
  OUR CHILDREN FOR THE MOST PART ATTEND SCHOOL ON-LINE, OUR COMMUNITES HAVE SUFFERED GREATLY DUR TO UNEMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, ISOLATION, AND THE INABILITY TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION HAS INCREASED.

            ACCORDING TO JAMES MOORE IN HIS BOOK: ATTITUDE IS YOUR PAINTBRUSH: IT COLORS EVERY SITUATION; “THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE I KNOW ARE THE GRATEFUL PEOPLE; THE STRONGEST, MOST FULFILLED PEOPLE I KNOW ARE THE THANKFUL PEOPLE.” (p. 10, 1998).

            THE APOSTLE PAUL PUT IT LIKE THIS:” GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:18).  IN EVERYTHING, GIVE THANKS, PAUL SAYS.  IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, GIVE THANKS.  

            THIS PASSAGE IS VERY PERSONAL AS I USED IT IN A EULOGY FOR MY MOM WHO WENT HOME TO BE WITH THE LORD ON 10/23/18.  I REMEMBER CRYING THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE MEMORIAL SERVICE TOUCHED BY THE PRAYERS, THE SONGS AND THE PRESENCE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  WHEN I STOOD UP TO SPEAK MY ATTITUDE WAS ONE OF GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE LOVE I FELT, THE GRATITUDE FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT DURING MY TIME OF BEREAVEMENT.  I WAS OVERWHELMED WITH GRATITUDE AND I KNEW I WAS NOT ALONE.
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            HAVING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE IS INTENTIONAL.  IT TAKES TIME; TIME WITH GOD IN PRAYER, TIME IN GOD’S WORD, AND TIME WITH OTHERS- VIA ZOOM, FACE TIME.  HOWEVER, YOU CAN CONNECT KNOWING THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE, WE ARE NOT ALONE, AND YES, WE CAN ALL DO BETTER.  VIEW EACH DAY AS A GIFT FROM GOD AND GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, BECAUSE HE IS GOOD, HIS MERCY IS EVERLASTING, AND HIS TRUTH ENDURES TO ALL GENERATIONS. (PSALM 100).
                                                                                                REV. DEBORAH WEST-JONES
                                                                                                NOV. 19. 2020

Where do I begin? I will begin with two deadly forces threatening the black community and go from there.  Before I delve into my thoughts about these forces, I just want to share my thoughts about the memorial service and the home going service for George Floyd.  I do not like funerals or memorials.  However, I was drawn to these services because I was connected, just because I am a black sister who felt the pain, the anguish, the humility, the cause.  It was a conglomerate of emotions.  Thus, the need to write.  Need I go further.  If you black and your reading this, there’s no need, you know!  I begin with the Pandemic, and then the killing of my brother George Floyd, where do we go from here, and what are you going to do about it?
 
How many of us have felt the isolation, the fear, and questioned the uncertainties of our future because of an entity that we had very little control over, the Covid-19!  The Pandemic.  Wow, it hit the black community, like a storm out of hell.  We were not prepared for an attack so fierce that it literally took our breath and lives away.  A storm that swept through our communities without remorse.  It claimed thousands of black lives.  Lives that should not have been taken but were taken because of the disparity caused by a systemic intersectional race of people who are afraid of anyone who looks different and believe it or not is different than them. A race of people who were taught to hate. Who systematically created a society of injustice, and inequality to foster their own idea of a superiority?  My brothers and sisters unrighteously died from an unproportionally number of cases of the virus due to the inequality of poverty created again by a race of people who just don’t give a damn about black people. Where do we go from here?  We must lobby for better health care, which includes prenatal care, infant care, and gynecological, women’s care, up to and including geriatric care in our communities.  Fight to keep our hospitals and medical care facilities accessible. Educate our communities about nutrition to maintain a healthy lifestyle to combat those conditions that create obesity and cause diseases that unfortunately adhere to the onslaught of the viruses such as Covid-19, and other life threatening illnesses that eradicate our communities.
 
And so here we are dealing with again the injustice of a white man killing a black man, because he felt the need to demonstrate his false superiority, which is really a fear of a black man.  How many times must we cry out, get your knee off my neck, take that rope from around my neck, call off the dogs and put away the hoses, I can’t breathe. What about the mental abuse? How many times have you heard, you're not smart enough, educated enough, you just don’t fit, you're not what we are looking for, you come across as an angry black person? We were told you're lazy, shiftless, not motivated. Yet, we got an education, got a better job, voted, prayed and became a better person, yet you still kept your knee on our necks, and found new ways to keep us oppressed. 
 
We want to thank You.  It was humbling to see all races for marching with us, for showing compassion, and trying to understand what we have been screaming for over 400 “Damn” years.  But where do we go from here?  Are you willing to bleed, or die for the injustices that we have endured?  Are you willing to educate your sons, your daughters, your co-workers, your friends, clergy and anyone you know to change the injustice, or will you be content for now?  Hoping that this will all go away, so that you can be complacent once again and ignore the ugly truth, and go back to what is your “American Dream?”

Where do we go from here?  This has to be the question on all our minds.  But more than where do we go from here, the question should be, but what can I do? Can you step out of your comfort zone and contribute to the cause, or be the cause? My question to you, where do you go from here?
 

Written By 
SUE Contributor 
Deloise G. Y
dloisgg21@gmail.com