Hospital Decorates to Cheer COVID Patients and Caregivers
2020-12-25
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1A Christmas tree stands near the intensive care room of a COVID-19 patient.
2He lies unconscious, connected to a machine that breathes for him.
3A few feet away, a plastic snowman hangs near the room of another patient who is also on a ventilator.
4The holiday decorations at East Alabama Medical Center "let family members know that we're trying, and we love these patients" said nurse Carla Fallin.
5"We want them to feel like it's Christmas as much as we can," she added.
6Nurses and doctors who have spent months caring for sick people are doing what they can to get through the holiday season.
7They worry people will hold gatherings, travel and take part in other activities that could add to the current wave in COVID-19 cases.
8Fallin has been a nurse for five years at the hospital in Opelika, Alabama.
9She says the decorations help lighten the mental load in the ICU.
10A sharp rise in infections linked to Thanksgiving gatherings is now filling up beds at the hospital.
11Vaccines are on the way, but not yet available to the general public.
12Hospital officials are worried about what might happen in January after holiday travel and celebrations are over.
13When so many are suffering even a picture of a candy cane on an ICU window can help.
14Dr. Meshia Wallace is a lung doctor who works with patients in serious condition.
15"Families come in, and all they're getting for the most part is bad news," she said.
16"A little bit of Christmas cheer is not going to hurt. It can only help."
17Wallace is not attending her usual Christmas gathering of about 30 relatives.
18She hopes to spend the holiday with an aunt who might drive from Atlanta, Georgia, if neither of them shows signs of COVID-19.
19Dr. Ricardo Maldonado leads the pandemic team at East Alabama.
20He knows exactly what he will do for the holiday.
21"Work," Maldonado said after visiting patients on a hospital floor full of COVID-19 patients. "There is so much work."
22The nonprofit hospital has had to add about 60 nurses to its workforce to meet the increased demand.
23But East Alabama Medical Center's chief, Laura Grill, said neighboring states continue to ask the hospital to take in some of their sick.
24Some East Alabama employees got sick with COVID-19, Grill said.
25Others retired from their jobs or just left.
26Many, she said, are suffering physically and emotionally from extreme tiredness.
27Nurse Marilynn Waldon has felt the strain.
28She cares for COVID-19 patients in an area that has been decorated with white lights and Christmas stockings.
29Waldon had planned to retire this month.
30 But with the holidays nearing, she changed her mind.
31She said, "I talked to God about it, and he said, 'You're not a quitter. No...you need to stay there, do what you can, until we get over this crisis that we're in.'"
32I'm Jonathan Evans.
1A Christmas tree stands near the intensive care room of a COVID-19 patient. He lies unconscious, connected to a machine that breathes for him. A few feet away, a plastic snowman hangs near the room of another patient who is also on a ventilator. 2The holiday decorations at East Alabama Medical Center "let family members know that we're trying, and we love these patients" said nurse Carla Fallin. "We want them to feel like it's Christmas as much as we can," she added. 3Nurses and doctors who have spent months caring for sick people are doing what they can to get through the holiday season. They worry people will hold gatherings, travel and take part in other activities that could add to the current wave in COVID-19 cases. 4Fallin has been a nurse for five years at the hospital in Opelika, Alabama. She says the decorations help lighten the mental load in the ICU. A sharp rise in infections linked to Thanksgiving gatherings is now filling up beds at the hospital. Vaccines are on the way, but not yet available to the general public. Hospital officials are worried about what might happen in January after holiday travel and celebrations are over. 5When so many are suffering even a picture of a candy cane on an ICU window can help. Dr. Meshia Wallace is a lung doctor who works with patients in serious condition. 6"Families come in, and all they're getting for the most part is bad news," she said. "A little bit of Christmas cheer is not going to hurt. It can only help." 7Wallace is not attending her usual Christmas gathering of about 30 relatives. She hopes to spend the holiday with an aunt who might drive from Atlanta, Georgia, if neither of them shows signs of COVID-19. 8Dr. Ricardo Maldonado leads the pandemic team at East Alabama. He knows exactly what he will do for the holiday. 9"Work," Maldonado said after visiting patients on a hospital floor full of COVID-19 patients. "There is so much work." 10The nonprofit hospital has had to add about 60 nurses to its workforce to meet the increased demand. But East Alabama Medical Center's chief, Laura Grill, said neighboring states continue to ask the hospital to take in some of their sick. 11Some East Alabama employees got sick with COVID-19, Grill said. Others retired from their jobs or just left. Many, she said, are suffering physically and emotionally from extreme tiredness. 12Nurse Marilynn Waldon has felt the strain. She cares for COVID-19 patients in an area that has been decorated with white lights and Christmas stockings. Waldon had planned to retire this month. But with the holidays nearing, she changed her mind. 13She said, "I talked to God about it, and he said, 'You're not a quitter. No...you need to stay there, do what you can, until we get over this crisis that we're in.'" 14I'm Jonathan Evans. 15Jay Reeves reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 16____________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18unconscious -adj. not awake especially because of an injury, drug, sickness, etc. 19decoration -n. an object that is added to a place or a thing that is meant to make it more pleasing 20strain -n. a feeling of worry that is difficult to deal with 21stocking -n. a decorative pouch shaped like a large sock that is used for holding gifts at Christmas 22We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.