Frontline Worker Feature: Joni

We have many frontline health workers in our church family. We wanted to see how they're doing and hopefully in hearing their stories we can gain better understanding and empathy with what they have to face each day. Meet Joni! 😊

1. Hi there! Could you introduce yourself and let us know what you do for work?

HI, I am a clinical pharmacist working with a paediatric population that is mostly immunosuppressed. A large portion of my patients are unvaccinated due to age and other factors. This carries increased risk of exposure/infection in both directions.

2. How has the pandemic and covid affected your work?

The common goal in our clinic is that our patients will not 'catch' covid from a staff member. Because of this, I have chosen to reduce my in person contacts at work and at home to reduce the risk I bring to work and back home. Since the pandemic started, I eat my lunch at my office desk facing the wall, often alone. We must wear continuous eye protection and continuous masking at all times, unmasking to eat/drink only if we were more than 6 feet apart from another coworker. I try to make my eyes smile when greeting a patient or coworker because you can't see the smile behind the mask, but it's hard. I do not work from home as that is not an option in a clinical setting. I try to have a walk after lunch every day with coworkers while masked. However, all social functions and in person celebrations at work are not permitted. It is often a lonely time as a health care worker. Also, at any moment, we could get a call from IP&C (infection prevention and control) that we have been exposed to a positive case of covid at work or that there is an outbreak at our centre etc. This happened to me once and has made me a little 'edgey.' Unfortunately, we do encounter patients/families who are not honest about their symptoms prior to coming to clinic.

3. How has the covid pandemic affected your personal life/family/mental health?

The covid pandemic has permeated all aspects of our life, not only because of the restrictions that come and go, but because of the mental load of assessing covid risk and benefits of everything. Whatever I have done and wherever I have chosen to go in the last few days, I worry I carry those potential exposure risks with me to work and into my home. As both my husband and I are health care workers, if one were to become sick, the other is greatly affected, as are the children. We are thankful to have 4 elderly grandparents involved with our children's care but we also have to consider the risk we pose to their health. This has affected what activities we choose to allow our children to participate in and who comes into our home. Personally as a mother of 3 young kids, I have made choices to reduce my social contacts in person to protect my family. I have struggled greatly with decisions regarding the children and trying to balance social and emotional development too. I am sad my children are not able to visit with their great grandmother in an assisted living facility.

4. What have you learned from your experiences of the pandemic over the past two years and how has this affected your faith?

I have learned that although the pandemic has created physical separation between people, it is possible to be creative in coming alongside those who are struggling or hurting. I feel it is very worthwhile and needed to maintain our relationships with people, to remember those who are alone, and to show others we care despite differences in viewpoints. And I have been reminded that God is at work even when we can't see it.

5. What is something that has sustained you and/or encouraged you over the past 2 years?

My children. Just seeing their joy at discovering something new like my eldest son understanding a pun for the first time or my daughter learning to ride a bike etc and them being excited at the simplest of things (stamping on bubble wrap, hot chocolate bombs, new library books etc), reminds me that I have plenty already.

6. With all the changes that have happened to your family during the pandemic, what is one change you’d like to carry with you into post-pandemic life?

Because we stopped eating out, we cooked almost all of our own meals and have explored many new recipes and found out there's so much we can make for ourselves. I hope we can teach our children the benefits of learning to cook too. Oh yeah, I picked up sourdough baking when the pandemic started and I think my sourdough starter 'Gary is here to stay. :)

7. How can we pray for you?

Wisdom in decision making for myself and my family, and peace for the future.

8. What are some practical ways we can show our frontline workers we care?

Just simple words of appreciation and checking in every so often mean a lot.

9. The floor is yours. Is there anything else you want to say?

Psalm 46:10 - “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Frontline Worker Feature: Lily

We have many frontline health workers in our church family. We wanted to reach out to see how they're doing and hopefully in hearing their stories we can gain more understanding and empathy with what they have to face each day. Meet Lily!

1. Hi there! Could you introduce yourself and let us know what you do for work?

Hello! I’m Lily, and I’m a Registered Nurse (RN). I jump between a few different roles at work, but currently split my time between Health Link/811 (specifically on their Covid Response Team), as well as the Day Medicine Clinic, and the Day Surgery Unit at the Foothills Medical Center.

2. How has the pandemic and covid affected your work?

As you can imagine, it’s hard to answer this question because it has been so dynamic since this whole thing began back in 2019 and there have been so many changes to our work and to an extent the nature of our work. In general though, and even prior to the pandemic, the units I’ve been a part of, were already understaffed and under pressure, with a combination of budget cuts, and ever-increasing patient loads in the name of efficiency - with COVID this pressure has magnified exponentially, which has caused so much undue stress on everyone involved in the healthcare system - nurses, doctors, patients, supports staff, and all their families.

As a nurse, my goal and training were to help people to heal, recover and to feel at their best again, but given the current situation, it’s been so difficult to accomplish that. While my colleagues and I still try our best, our constantly changing systems/protocols for patient care, lack of staffing, and fear of getting ill ourselves mean we no longer have the same level of time, energy, and if I’m honest, even empathy to provide the level of care we would like.

3. How has the covid pandemic affected your personal life/family/mental health?

I think most frontline workers will relate, but this whole experience has certainly impacted all aspects of our lives. As an example, at the beginning of the pandemic, my units lacked any sort of PPE (personal protective equipment) including basic things we take for granted now, like masks or eye protection, which caused me and my colleagues significant stress. Given the unknown (at the time) impacts of Covid, and the extent of transmissibility, I isolated myself from my husband and my young son (who was 1.5y/o at the time), and moved out into my sister’s vacant apartment for the first few months hoping to protect them from the worst. I know I wasn’t alone in that aspect. Of course, now, looking back, I can say that was likely not necessary, but I remember the stress and anxiety this caused all of us.

More recently, I would just say that I just remember fondly before the pandemic, that when I ended my shift, I did not have to worry about what the next day would bring. However, since the pandemic started, I cannot say the same. Given the ever changing nature of my work, every night I have to worry about what the morning will bring, read up on any new protocols or guidelines, and watch updates from AHS and the government so we can be prepared for the tasks ahead. While ultimately I am grateful to be working and hopefully making a difference, it’s very draining.

4. What have you learned from your experiences of the pandemic over the past two years and how has this affected your faith?

While I was a fairly introverted person prior to the pandemic, I can certainly say, I have learned to lean on family, friends, and community so much more as the pandemic continued. I still struggle with my walk with Christ given all that is occurring around me, but I am constantly reminded and see Christ working all around me, despite my struggles, through the love shown to me through others. I feel he’s been guiding my path throughout.

5. What is something that has sustained you and/or encouraged you over the past 2 years?

As above, given all the isolation and distancing has kept us from one another, it’s been a reminder for me to cherish the time I have with my family and friends, and to be thankful to God that throughout this pandemic, this community he has blessed me with, has sustained me. I am reminded of the verse from 1 John 4:12, which states that although no one has seen God, if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. I feel that.

6. With all the changes that have happened to your family during the pandemic, what is one change you’d like to carry with you into post-pandemic life?

Following the theme mentioned above, I often took for granted the times I spent with my husband, my son, extended family, and friends, but given the pandemic, this has certainly given me a different perspective. I cherish every moment I have with them, and I hope I can always remember when I couldn’t see them, and to not take it for granted again.

7. How can we pray for you?

That I can continue to draw strength, wisdom, and courage from God for the challenges we collectively face, and to be reminded that he is our source of hope, especially when times get tough.

8. What are some practical ways we can show our frontline workers we care?

This is tough to answer. Oftentimes we are lumped together as these remarkable heroes that should be admired, but really we are just normal imperfect people trying to do the best we can. While appreciated, I don’t necessarily need a donut, coffee, or care package. What I can say is, I long for a day where I don’t have to worry about how I will get through the day, or if I can provide the necessary care for people, with adequate resources, who are experiencing the worst times in their lives at the hospital. From there, I’d say, is to learn about our society and be aware of how certain policies driven by certain ideologies, can directly impact your health care workers, our society, and ultimately your care directly. So if you care, be engaged, vote, advocate! (I laugh, but people who know us well may say this was from my husband, but this is my own thought!)

9. The floor is yours. Is there anything else you want to say?

I think I’ve said more than enough! Thank you for this opportunity to share my perspective, thank you to all my fellow frontline workers, and those who support us. I hope it provides a glimpse into our world.

Frontline Worker Feature: Silas

Silas and his wife Connie

We have many frontline health workers in our church family. We wanted to reach out to see how they're doing and hopefully in hearing their stories we can gain more understanding and empathy with what they have to face each day. Meet Silas:

Hi there! Could you introduce yourself and let us know what you do for work?

I am a pharmacist.

How has the pandemic affected your work?

Like many of my colleagues, I am on the verge of burning out. My time at work consists of giving vaccinations, providing Rapid Antigen tests, handing out test kits, entertaining non-stop phone calls, while trying to do my regular job as a pharmacist.

How has the pandemic affected your personal life/family/mental health?

Needless to say, work has drained out my energy. I often try to understand the reason why God allowed this to happen and for so long, but like everyone else, it's just speculation. I do give thanks for the peace that God has given me in the midst of this storm. This peace has provide me the strength I need to get up every morning to go to work, and the determination to carry on in times when I feel that I should just retire and quit. But what I missed most is not being able to spend time with my family, and able to visit my mom more.

What have you learned from your experiences of the pandemic over the past two years and how has this affected your faith?

The past two years has reminded me how limited human strength and knowledge can be. This pandemic has taught me to trust and rely on our Creator. I learned to appreciate more what Moses meant by " Our days ... yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away... Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

With all the changes that have happened to your family during the pandemic, what is one change you’d like to carry with you into post-pandemic life?

One thing at the fore front - Spend time with family and friends both in quality and quantity.

How can we pray for you?

Give thanks with me that I learned to rely on Him more.

What are some practical ways we can show our frontline workers we care?

My view doesn't represent all frontline workers. Personally, I do enjoy spending time in solitude and quietness.

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Some of us on the comms team received boosters from Silas' pharmacy over the holidays and he told me it was his day off. Thank you.

“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another. – Alfred Adler”

Frontline Worker Feature: Sharon

We have many frontline health workers in our church community and we wanted to reach out to see how they're doing. Meet Sharon:

Hi there! Could you introduce yourself and let us know what you do for work?

I am a Pharmacist/ Owner at Shoppers Drug Mart.

How has the pandemic affected your work?

It’s changed a lot since the pandemic. Everyday we are faced with different challenges, new implementations from corporate office and programs from government are put on our shoulders with barely any notices. Staffing is a very difficult as we are always distracted with different inquiries and phone calls.

How has the pandemic affected your personal life/family/mental health?

I am blessed with a supportive family. At this point my three “children” are now grown adults, they are able to share chores with me and my husband which I don’t know how I would handle if the pandemic happens few years prior when they were at a growing stage. I can still get affected mentally when I go home after spending a long day with demanding request by the public. I just have to remember there are still rewarding side of this job. I still enjoy what I do and the place I work is like my second family.

What have you learned from your experiences of the pandemic over the past two years and how has this affected your faith?

God has given me this unique opportunity to serve my patients at this time and I should be thankful for what He’s provided for me. Throughout the pandemic, I have come to appreciate how blessed we are to live in a free and abundant country, and yet we have no control of anything that lies ahead of us. My faith in God is the only thing that can give me hope and the motivation to live my fullest daily.

With all the changes that have happened to your family during the pandemic, what is one change you’d like to carry with you into post-pandemic life?

I was thankful that my grown kids are at home more often during last two years. I would like to continue spending more time as a family as they were mostly away from home before during university years.

How can we pray for you?

Pray that I would continue to have good health and strength to work daily. We are all very tired, both our bodies and mind, pray that all my co workers are in good shape as well and we have enough staff to support each other.

What are some practical ways we can show our frontline workers we care?

Say “thank you” to the staff when they are helping you. Be patient! Your needs are not more important than someone else’s needs. Do not “panic” if you can’t get your vaccines or CoVid kits . When you need to get “angry” at things, just breath and keep up your smile. We can only do our best and somethings are not in our control.

The floor is yours. Is there anything else you want to say?

If you do not work in our setting, it is very difficult to understand what we go through daily. It is hard to be empathetic towards others when everyone else is struggling in other ways by the pandemic. As a church body, we need to show more understanding towards each other. When someone is sharing their story, try to really “listen”, show you truly care.

Frontline Worker Feature: Kristen

Hi there! Could you introduce yourself and let us know what you do for work?

My name is Kristen and I am a Registered Nurse (RN). I work in child and adolescent mental health services, but since January of 2021, I have been primarily working with our COVID-19 Rapid Response teams doing COVID-19 immunization and supporting the Health Link 811 COVID-19 Nursing Clinical team. Some of you may know, I am also part-time at the church with the Special Needs Ministry. Starting this week, I will also be helping cover part of Ryan's responsibilities as the Parish Nurse while he takes his sabbatical.

How has the pandemic affected your work?

On the mental health unit, we've seen how the pandemic affects the mental health of young people. The patients we see have more severe/exceptional needs and there continues to not be enough hospital beds available. The pandemic has also affected my work in terms of role changes - I didn't work in immunization services or Health Link 811 prior to the pandemic. There is no stability/consistency in my work, as I have gone through four different role changes within AHS since the start of COVID-19. Morale is low and many nurses have chosen to leave the profession. Staffing shortages are very real and can be very dangerous.

How has the pandemic affected your personal life/family/mental health?

The pandemic has heightened my anxiety. I like structure, planning ahead, and knowing what to expect. Not being able to have/do these things has been quite emotionally/mentally challenging for me. My husband and I look forward to having larger gatherings with family and friends again.

What have you learned from your experiences of the pandemic over the past two years and how has this affected your faith?

The Lord has truly given us so many things to be thankful for. I have seen evidence of God's goodness just as much during the pandemic as before the pandemic.

With all the changes that have happened to your family during the pandemic, what is one change you’d like to carry with you into post-pandemic life?

More outdoor gatherings instead of always having indoor ones (but only when warm).

How can we pray for you?

Pray for God to give us the strength, hope and resiliency we need to face each new wave and change that comes with COVID-19.

What are some practical ways we can show our frontline workers we care?

Honestly, the most practical way to show you care is to get vaccinated and follow public health measures. Show empathy, patience, and respect to everyone in the healthcare system that you come in contact with.

The floor is yours. Is there anything else you want to say?

I know that everyone has faced their own challenges during the pandemic. Although I do not work at the church full-time, I am very much available and would love to support the SCCEFC family. I would be happy to meet up with you in-person or virtually, do a home visitation, provide you with mental health support/resources, clarify COVID-19 information for you, accompany you to an appointment, advocate for you, etc! Please contact me anytime at [email protected].

Frontline Worker Feature: Terry

We have many frontline health workers in our church community and we wanted to reach out to see how they're doing. Meet Terry. This is what he had to say:

Hi! Could you introduce yourself and tell us what you do for work?

I'm a Long Term Care/Subacute Care pharmacy manager

How has the pandemic and covid affected your work?

I still commute to work everyday. Because of the frequent changes in Medical Officer of Health rules in congregate settings, we've had to adopt and pivot multiple times. We've lost a lot of staff and struggling to hire new ones. Morale is low and my staff call in sick a lot (often mental health related).

How has the covid pandemic affected your personal life/family/mental health?

We have become quite an isolated family. Mood and energy is often low as the infrequent ge-togethers are becoming more accepted our as new normal. When I do meet with others, I find myself not present or as interested as I once was pre-pandemic. I hate Zoom.

What have you learned from your experiences of the pandemic over the past two years and how has this affected your faith?

God is trying to teach us something and will keep prolonging this pandemic until we learn the lesson that we need to restore our allegiance to God. My faith overall has deteriorated and I often question the role of the church (people/ NOT staff)

With all the changes that have happened to your family during the pandemic, what is one change you’d like to carry with you into post-pandemic life?

I don't know. Relish face-to-face encounters more?

How can we pray for you?

As for prayer, just pray for God's sustenance and our reliance on His strength to push through.

What are some ways we can show you we care?

As for practical ways.....just have patience and extra grace toward us, as speaking for myself, I can be ill-tempered or dissociated more easily.