Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We’re sharing this local nurse’s experience on the front lines of working during this pandemic. It demonstrates both the challenges and the support happening around us. Our office thanks Aubrey Lynn Collins for her Facebook posts and for allowing us to share them here. We also thank all medical personnel and first responders as well as everyone working in essential services to keep our communities safe and supplied.
On April 2nd, Aubrey shared this experience in a Facebook post:
To my friends and family:
I’ve been quiet about this Coronavirus thus far but today my life changed when I was asked to take care of several Coronavirus positive patients without wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This was no fault of my employer, but because of the national shortage of PPE. I know you’ve heard of this all over the news but today, and for the unforeseeable future, this is my reality. So I am asking my friends and family… if you work construction or in a machine shop, if you’re a painter or someone who uses N95s at your job, if you can spare some PLEASE send them to me or donate them to VVMC. If anyone has goggles, or reusable safety glass that cover my our eyes then send those too! We are desperate here. Anything helps.
Stay safe my people ❤️ Sending love your way,
Your night shift nurse
Aubrey was careful to note that the lack of protective equipment was not her employer’s fault. She knew that they, like many medical facilities, are facing a national shortage of PPE. Fortunately for Aubrey and her colleagues, a generous delivery came her way just a week later.
This is her second post:
HUGE shoutout to Arizona College of Nursing, my Alma mater, for donating 200 disposable gowns, 28 goggles, several boxes of gloves, surgical masks, and hand sanitizer! Thank you for supporting your nursing students even after graduation ?. My dean and director drove 2.5 hours up to the verde valley to make sure that my colleagues and I have what we need to stay safe.
I have also received several items in the mail from people all over the United States trying to help out. People I know personally to people I’ve never met before but saw my previous post asking for help are coming together for your healthcare workers. Thank you to everyone who gave what they had to the staff at Verde Valley Medical Center. We will get through this, and because of you we will get through this TOGETHER. So much love for each and every one of you who took the time and money to donate. WE LOVE YOU ❤️ THANK YOU ??
P.S. I cannot tag everyone who donated on my post because we are not Facebook official, but know how grateful we all are ?
