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Social media came unglued the last few days because apparently people want to hear more from "America's Frontline Doctors"
So I have some perspective for you
THREAD
So I have some perspective for you
THREAD
I've heard more in the last few days than I have in the last 6 months about how people want to "hear from providers on the front lines" so they can "know what's really going on"
Well, my husband is one of those providers, so let's talk.
Well, my husband is one of those providers, so let's talk.
In March, we changed our entire lives. We canceled everything, we started isolating, we followed the guidelines. And as the guidelines changed, so did our habits.
Because we listen to experts.
Because we listen to experts.
He started volunteering to deliver groceries to people at risk and in need. Sometimes paying for strangers' groceries himself.
He volunteered to help the hospital plan for the surge of patients and build new places to house them.
He volunteered to help the hospital plan for the surge of patients and build new places to house them.
He read reddit posts, and journal articles, he studied the information coming out of NY and other hard hit areas so he could be ready.
We implored friends and family to donate any PPE they may have.
We implored friends and family to donate any PPE they may have.
When the hospital asked what day would be best for mandatory overtime, we picked one.
When they asked for additional overtime on top of that with the sickest patients, he volunteered.
When they needed more help in the testing tents, he volunteered.
When they asked for additional overtime on top of that with the sickest patients, he volunteered.
When they needed more help in the testing tents, he volunteered.
We continued to follow guidelines. Even when they were depressing, even when they were inconvenient.
Because we listen to experts.
Because we listen to experts.
As providers have started to burn out, he has held them in his arms while they wept.
He has volunteered to trade shifts to help people get a break. He is worried that people who have seen less death than he has are suffering, because they aren't "used to it yet."
He has volunteered to trade shifts to help people get a break. He is worried that people who have seen less death than he has are suffering, because they aren't "used to it yet."
In a span of 11 days he will have worked:
6 ICU shifts (12 hours)
2 testing tent shifts (9 hours)
1 class (he taught, 4 hours)
1 meeting about grief (3 hours)
6 ICU shifts (12 hours)
2 testing tent shifts (9 hours)
1 class (he taught, 4 hours)
1 meeting about grief (3 hours)
And you know what he says when you ask about how much work he's doing?
HE WISHES THERE WAS MORE HE COULD DO TO HELP.
I had to hear my 3 year old say "There's only a little more sickness to get rid of, you can fix it, right Daddy?"
HE WISHES THERE WAS MORE HE COULD DO TO HELP.
I had to hear my 3 year old say "There's only a little more sickness to get rid of, you can fix it, right Daddy?"
We're worried about our friends and family and his coworkers (all medical professionals) who have been running themselves ragged since March trying to keep people safe. And we're right to be worried, because they're starting to crumble.
They're starting to get frustrated that despite clear guidelines and recommendations from experts, people are ignoring the advice.
We know how to keep people safe. And people just won't do it.
We know how to keep people safe. And people just won't do it.
What they will do, is show up at the Emergency Department demanding help. Or at the testing centers demanding answers.
Nobody wants to listen to doctors when it's inconvenient, but you're happy to rush to them to have them save you when you're dying.
Nobody wants to listen to doctors when it's inconvenient, but you're happy to rush to them to have them save you when you're dying.
Today he had a middle aged man with multiple comorbidities tell him that he didn't think the virus was even real, but his doctor made him get tested.
I had a friend tell me last week that she didn't "know anyone who's had this fucking virus, but I do know people's rights are being taken away" because she was furious about masking advisories.
Later she said she hoped "everyone would just get it and die and get it over with"
Later she said she hoped "everyone would just get it and die and get it over with"
I had a colleague tell me that the numbers were made up to help the democrats win the election, and another say that she's "researching all sides" but she thinks everyone should be taking hydroxychloroquine just in case. "Because that's what Trump and that doctor said"
A woman at the unemployment office told me that they want to "wean people off the checks and get everyone back to work, that's what we all want right?"
That we would all feel better back in the office and at school.
That we would all feel better back in the office and at school.
All these people are obsessed with that video. The "doctors working on the front lines" the providers who can really tell us what's really going on.
THEY'VE BEEN TELLING YOU SINCE MARCH. YOU DIDN'T FUCKING LISTEN
THEY'VE BEEN TELLING YOU SINCE MARCH. YOU DIDN'T FUCKING LISTEN
Medical professionals, Epidemiologists, infectious disease experts, the FDA, CDC, and WHO have been telling you since March.
And everyone ignored them because they were scared and stubborn and selfish.
And everyone ignored them because they were scared and stubborn and selfish.
I get it, it's scary. Everyone is scared.
But they told you. They told you what to do and you ignored them, and now everyone is in danger.
The reason that other countries are doing better and back to work and school is that they listened to experts.
But they told you. They told you what to do and you ignored them, and now everyone is in danger.
The reason that other countries are doing better and back to work and school is that they listened to experts.
You want "perspective" from the front line?
Wear a mask
Distance 6ft
Stay home if possible
Wash your hands
Listen to Fauci, not Trump
Hydroxychloroquine causes heart arrhythmias. People are not being cured by this drug, it is killing them
Wear a maskDistance 6ftStay home if possibleWash your handsListen to Fauci, not TrumpHydroxychloroquine causes heart arrhythmias. People are not being cured by this drug, it is killing them
Scientific illiteracy is killing people just as much as coronavirus.
American culture is SO independent and SO self serving that people won't do something simple and basic to protect fellow citizens
American culture is SO independent and SO self serving that people won't do something simple and basic to protect fellow citizens
Assuming experts are wrong/lying because it's more comfortable/convenient is killing people.
The real providers on the front lines are exhausted, and they are working so hard to rescue the people who have been ignoring them.
The real providers on the front lines are exhausted, and they are working so hard to rescue the people who have been ignoring them.
I hope someone you love doesn't have to die to teach you this lesson. I hope my husband doesn't have to die to save you.
#TrumpThreatensAmerica #Fauci
#MaskItOrCasket #TrumpVirusDeathToll150K #Hydroxychloroquine #AmericasFrontlineDoctors
#TrumpThreatensAmerica #Fauci
#MaskItOrCasket #TrumpVirusDeathToll150K #Hydroxychloroquine #AmericasFrontlineDoctors
