Medical war zone

 medical war zone satirical cartoon 

As infections peak around parts of the world, some hospitals have become like war zones. To learn about the experiences of health care workers fighting on the front lines during the pandemic, please read the following:

• Courtney Johnson shares her experience as a front line health care worker in NYC.
• Aljazeera coverage of what it’s like for front line health care workers.
• BBC looks at coronavirus health care workers vulnerable to moral injury trauma.
• CBS Face the Nation salute to front line health care workers.
• CT health care workers express concerns, demand safety precautions.
• IN front line health care workers share their experience.
• NBC video diaries of front line health care workers.
• UConn ICU nurses on the front line.
• Grieving doctor tried to see dead wife one last time; they both worked at Wuhan hospital.

photo of UNCG nurse

This nurse is a graduate of UNC Greensboro, my alma mater. Her image has become a popular meme during the pandemic, symbolizing the face of the coronavirus fight.

In the spirit of spreading happy, positive, and/or silly vibes:

• Chris Mann sings Thank You Frontline. 
• Carol Burnette shares some vintage bloopers.
• Visit largest collection of Frida Kahlo art free online.

Daily pandemic update:  

The worldwide death toll surpassed 100,000 among 1.7 million cases. Italy registered the highest number of deaths, more than 18,800, while the US reported the majority of confirmed infections, roughly half a million. Coronavirus cases appear to be slowing down in Europe while accelerating at an alarming rate in Africa. World health officials warn that lifting stay-at-home orders too soon could lead to a deadly resurgence. WHO is especially concerned about the high level of health-care workers infected across the globe. Aljazeera.com timeline

11 Apr 2020	Cases		Deaths		Recovered**
10:45 GMT*	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today
World	1,617,574	1,710,207	96,919	103,506	365,743	382,049
US	468,895	503,177	16,697	18,761	25,928	27,314
NY	161,807	174,489	7,067	7,887	16,234	16,517
CT	9,784	10,538	380	448	0	0
NC	3,845	4,092	83	88	281	284

*Documenting time of day because real time data updates continuously.

**CT not yet releasing stats on recovered patients.
Tracking specific states:  NY is US epicenter, son Reid lives in CT, and I live in NC. 
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/     https://www.coronainusa.com/  

A moment of silence for those we’ve lost to coronavirus, including the first 100 in the US.

In the news:

• Parenting tips during times of crisis.
• Indonesian volcano Krakatoa has reportedly erupted.
• The rest of the headlines can be summarized as same shit, different day.  

Following Kenny Beck’s lead to share a few signs of hope:

• AR health care workers cheered as their first long term coronavirus patient left the hospital to go home.
• Former nurse who owns MO bakery is now feeding front line health care workers.
• Moms are donating breast pumps for use as ventilators.

In my personal life…

Today would have been my mom’s 71^st birthday. Among several vocations, she was a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for a time. She passed on five years ago, unexpectedly; death certificate indicated COPD. If she were alive today, she would be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.

mom's birthday cake decorations include elementary school photo, senior portrait, and freshman photo 

mom with family at Hickory Crawdads baseball game; front row L-R mom (Lora) and her sister Myra; second row L-R their brothers Terry, Gary, and Doug; additional relatives in the background 

mom with her siblings; front row L-R mom (Lora) and her sister Myra; second row L-R their brothers Doug, Gary, and Terry