Molly O’Connell, Pediatric APRN in Hospital Medicine, at home with her husband Chuck Gunsten, 4th Grade Teacher, and their three children.Â
"Thankfully, COVID19 hasn’t affected children's bodies like it has adults, so much of our work at the hospital is the same as it was before the pandemic hit (PPE issues not withstanding!). As pediatric providers, we see our colleagues in adult medicine going into battle and we wish there was more that we could do to directly help. Then we are reminded that we just need to keep taking care of the children— the children of our community whose parents need to trust that no matter what is happening in the world, their sons and daughters will be gently and wholly tended to and treated by people like myself."
"I’ve slowed down, as many people have. Suddenly there are more hours to the day, since there are less places to go and things to attend. I think this pace suits my emotional well-being, but I miss my loved ones who I haven’t been able to spend time with. I worry about the unknown, the deniers, the conspirators, power in the wrong hands, the passing of precious time that’s not being spent with people, the vulnerable individuals whose suffering is potentiated right now.Â
Because I am a clinician, the pandemic is still occupying the majority of my brain, but it’s the killing of George Floyd that’s occupying most of my heart. I am hopeful that there is a shift in how we view and frame things, how we do things; perhaps a more cohesive and cooperative approach to humanity. I hope..."