Here’s to you

This is addressed to the courageous individuals who are still battling on the frontline of this pandemic. No, we have not forgotten about you. Whether you're a doctor, nurse, paramedic, first responder, caregiver, or janitor of a hospital, you're a hero. We may be moving forward with vaccinations, but the truth is: lives are still at risk as the coronavirus spreads along with its mutated strains. It’s been over a year and your job isn’t finished yet.

All of those months in quarantine allowed me to ponder upon what really goes on in your daily life. I am extremely grateful but at the same time, I feel sorry that while I am safe with my family, you barely get to see or touch yours. It isn’t fair but you carry on with immense courage and dedication.

Here’s the thing, I can’t help but wonder.

I wonder how on earth you manage to somehow continue working despite being physically worn out, mentally drained, and emotionally exhausted. I wonder if you ever get tired from the countless times you have to wash your hands or rub them with alcohol. I wonder how hard it is to walk around in your personal protective equipment (PPE). I wonder how many times you had to rush your meals because of the amount of work that needed to be done and the lack of time. Is the ER always flooded with patients that need to be brought to the Covid ward? Is it always chaotic and overwhelming? Do you always feel like you just want to scream out from the top of your lungs? Or are there good days too? Do you still laugh at a joke someone told you? Does that someone still tell jokes? Do you still look forward to brighter days? Are your smiles still real?

I wonder how you reassure your parents that you’re doing fine, even if that’s not entirely true. Their son or daughter who was once a child running around the house is suddenly a young adult working overtime. Maybe you’ve just graduated from nursing school and got tossed into the pool of nurses who are now taking care of Covid patients. Is this how you imagined it would be after finishing your studies? Or did this pandemic leave you with no other choice?

Maybe you’re a parent. Your spouse or babysitter is at home taking care of the kids. I wonder if your children know how brave their parents are. They might be too young to understand but I just hope that one day, when they learn about the COVID-19 Pandemic in their history class, they'll finally realize why Mommy or Daddy had to spend so much time away from them when they were younger.

I wonder if you feel appreciated enough. I hope you know that there are so many people, like me, who wish that we could help you. We’re stuck on the bleachers, rooting for you all the way. I hope you still have faith that things will get better, because that’s how you make us feel. We’re blown away by your extraordinary strength and bravery. You give us hope.

So here’s to you.

To you at the frontline, who is drowning in pain and anxiety, may you stop worrying about what tomorrow holds and remember who holds tomorrow. May you find comfort knowing that billions of lives are blessed by the work of your hands. May you feel our gratitude through this letter. When all of this is over, may you finally be able to go home. Here’s to you and everything you are.

Thank you for fighting for us without hesitation.