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7sistershomecare · 8 months

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Dementia is the general term for a health condition that causes a person to experience memory loss. It also affects a person’s behavior and cognitive abilities or functioning. This disease can significantly impact a person’s life, especially as it progresses. If you have a loved one affected by this, they need utmost support and proper dementia care.

#Health Care #Memory Care #Professional Caregive

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doggiely · 3 months

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How to Comfort a Dog in Pain

Dogs are known for their loyalty, companionship, and boundless affection towards their human companions. As pet owners, it's our responsibility to ensure their well-being, especially when they're experiencing pain or discomfort. Whether it's due to an injury, illness, or aging, knowing how to comfort a dog in pain is crucial. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore various strategies and techniques to provide comfort and support to our furry friends during challenging times.

Understanding Canine Pain: Before delving into the ways to comfort a dog in pain, it's essential to understand how dogs experience pain. While they may not express pain in the same way humans do, dogs exhibit subtle signs indicating their discomfort. These signs can include whimpering, panting, restlessness, decreased appetite, licking or biting at the affected area, and changes in behavior. It's crucial to pay close attention to these cues to provide timely assistance and relief.

Consultation with a Veterinarian: The first step in comforting a dog in pain is to seek professional veterinary care. A veterinarian can accurately diagnose the underlying cause of pain and recommend appropriate treatment options. They may prescribe medication, suggest lifestyle changes, or recommend further diagnostic tests, depending on the severity and nature of the pain. Consulting with a vet ensures that your dog receives the necessary medical attention and alleviates any potential risks associated with untreated pain.

Create a Comforting Environment: Once you've consulted with a veterinarian and have a treatment plan in place, creating a soothing environment for your dog can significantly contribute to their comfort. Ensure that their bedding is soft and supportive, preferably in a quiet and warm area of your home. Minimize loud noises and sudden movements that may startle or agitate them further. Providing a familiar blanket or toy can offer a sense of security and familiarity, easing their distress.

Gentle Physical Touch and Massage: Physical touch can be immensely comforting for dogs in pain, promoting relaxation and pain relief. Gentle stroking or massaging of the affected area can help alleviate muscle tension and improve circulation. However, it's essential to be cautious and avoid applying pressure directly to the injured or painful area, as this may exacerbate discomfort. Instead, focus on gentle, soothing motions and observe your dog's response to ensure they're comfortable.

Heat and Cold Therapy: Heat and cold therapy can be effective methods for managing pain and inflammation in dogs. Applying a warm compress or heating pad to the affected area can help relax muscles and reduce stiffness. Similarly, cold packs or ice packs wrapped in a towel can numb the area and alleviate swelling and discomfort. It's essential to use these therapies intermittently and monitor your dog's response closely to prevent skin irritation or burns.

Maintain a Regular Routine: Consistency and routine are essential for dogs, especially when they're experiencing pain or discomfort. Try to maintain their regular feeding schedule, exercise routine (if permitted by the veterinarian), and daily activities to provide a sense of stability and security. However, be mindful of their limitations and adjust their routine accordingly to prevent overexertion or worsening of their condition.

Provide Distraction and Mental Stimulation: Redirecting your dog's focus away from their pain can be beneficial in providing comfort and relief. Engage them in activities they enjoy, such as puzzle toys, interactive games, or gentle training exercises. Mental stimulation not only helps distract them from discomfort but also promotes cognitive function and overall well-being. Additionally, spending quality time together strengthens the bond between you and your furry companion, reinforcing feelings of love and security.

Monitor and Adjust Care as Needed: As your dog's primary caregiver, it's essential to monitor their condition closely and make adjustments to their care as needed. Keep track of any changes in their behavior, appetite, or mobility and communicate these observations with your veterinarian. They may need modifications to their treatment plan or additional support to manage their pain effectively. By staying vigilant and responsive to your dog's needs, you can ensure they receive the best possible care and comfort during their recovery journey.

Conclusion: Comforting a dog in pain requires patience, compassion, and a deep understanding of their needs. By consulting with a veterinarian, creating a comforting environment, and providing gentle care and support, you can help alleviate your dog's discomfort and promote their overall well-being. Remember to observe their cues, maintain consistency in their care, and be responsive to any changes in their condition. Your unwavering love and dedication are invaluable sources of comfort for your furry friend during challenging times.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DOG GROOMING, HEALTH AND TRAINING HERE

Male dog nipple swollen? (Reasons, Treatment and Prevention) (doggiely.com)

#dog #dogs of tumblr #puppy #pet #animal

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blessihomehllc · 4 months

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Getting precise personal assistance to meet your needs can certainly present a challenge. When considering options like home care services in Springfield, Virginia, it’s vital to recognize the agency’s professional profile. The best services are delivered by providers proficient in routine personal tasks and customized needs, guaranteeing you get a service that feels uniquely yours.

#Personal Aide Selection #Personal Care #Personal Support

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nj-craniofacial-center · 6 months

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Transforming Lives at the Pediatric Craniofacial Center in NJ

Welcome to the forefront of pediatric craniofacial care in the heart of New Jersey – the Pediatric Craniofacial Center. We stand as a beacon of hope and healing for families, committed to providing exceptional care for children facing craniofacial challenges, including the often-overlooked helmet flat head syndrome. Our center is not just a medical facility; it's a nurturing space where cutting-edge expertise meets unwavering compassion, ensuring every child receives the personalized care they deserve.

Comprehensive Care for Craniofacial Challenges:

At the Pediatric Craniofacial Center in NJ, we take pride in our team of highly skilled and compassionate specialists. Our experts are dedicated to offering comprehensive treatment for a spectrum of conditions, ranging from cleft lip and palate to craniosynostosis and facial deformities. We understand the complexity of these challenges and the impact they can have on both the child and their family. That's why we've curated a multidisciplinary approach that addresses not only the physical aspects of these conditions but also provides the emotional support families need throughout the entire journey.

Helmet Flat Head Syndrome: A Specialized Focus:

In our commitment to comprehensive care, we go beyond the conventional by addressing the unique needs of children with helmet flat head syndrome. This condition, often overlooked, can have a significant impact on a child's development and self-esteem. Our specialized approach combines medical expertise with a family-centered focus, ensuring that each child receives personalized care tailored to their specific needs. From assessment to treatment and ongoing support, we stand by our families, guiding them towards a brighter future.

Family-Centered Care:

At the Pediatric Craniofacial Center in NJ, we recognize that treating craniofacial conditions goes beyond medical procedures; it involves nurturing the emotional well-being of the child and their family. Our family-centered approach means that we prioritize open communication, collaboration, and understanding. We're here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and walk alongside you every step of the way. Our goal is not just to heal, but to empower families to navigate the challenges with resilience and hope.

Restoring Confidence, Function, and Quality of Life:

Our mission is clear – to help children thrive by restoring confidence, function, and quality of life. Whether it's addressing craniofacial challenges or helmet flat head syndrome, our comprehensive care model ensures that each child receives the individualized attention they need. Through state-of-the-art facilities and a team of dedicated professionals, we aim to be more than just a medical center – we strive to be a source of inspiration and support for every family we serve.

State-of-the-Art Facilities:

The Pediatric Craniofacial Center in NJ boasts state-of-the-art facilities equipped with the latest advancements in medical technology. Our commitment to excellence extends to our infrastructure, ensuring that our specialists have the tools they need to provide the best possible care. From diagnostic procedures to surgical interventions, our facilities are designed to create a comfortable and reassuring environment for both children and their families.

A Brighter Future for Every Child:

As pioneers in pediatric craniofacial care in New Jersey, we take pride in our role as advocates for children facing craniofacial challenges and helmet flat head syndrome. Through a combination of medical expertise, compassionate care, and family support, we are dedicated to creating a brighter future for every child who walks through our doors. Together, we can overcome challenges, instill confidence, and pave the way for a life filled with possibilities.

Conclusion:

At the Pediatric Craniofacial Center in NJ, we are more than a medical facility – we are a community of caregivers, advocates, and supporters. Our commitment to comprehensive care, family-centered approach, and state-of-the-art facilities position us at the forefront of pediatric craniofacial care in New Jersey. Join us on this journey of transformation, where we strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families, one smile at a time.

Explore the life-changing impact of our renowned Pediatric Craniofacial Center in New Jersey: https://njcraniofacialcenter.com/You can also locate us precisely here: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=4788335114785995121

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humantouchhha · 8 months

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Healthcare professionals in Falls Church, Virginia, play a crucial role in providing essential care and support to individuals who require assistance with daily living activities. Among the various healthcare professionals, home health aides stand out as a vital part of the healthcare staffing landscape, ensuring patients receive personalized care and attention in the comfort of their homes.

#Health Support #Home Care #Patient Care

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ctbraininjurysupportservice-blog · 1 year

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APHASIA | Exploring the Effects of Aphasia on Brain Injury, TBI, and Stroke.

Explore the impact of aphasia, a communication disorder resulting from brain injury or stroke, on individuals and their relationships. Learn how to provide support and improve the quality of life for those affected.

ABI Resources is a reputable organization that provides exceptional support to individuals and families in collaboration with various government agencies and community service providers, including the Connecticut Department of Social Services DSS, COU Community Options, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services DMHAS, Connecticut Community Care CCC CCCI Southwestern Connecticut Area on Aging SWCAA, Western Connecticut Area on Aging WCAAA, Allied Community Resources ACR, Access Health, and United Services. ABI Resources collaborates care with renowned institutions such as UCONN, Yale, and Hartford. As a community care and supported living provider, ABI Resources is dedicated to offering high-quality and personalized care to enhance the lives of those it serves. Medicaid MFP Money Follows the person program / ABI Waiver Program / PCA waiver.

aphasia, brain injury, stroke, communication, language, traumatic brain injury, TBI, neurological disorder, comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, word-finding, relationships, social life, emotional health, employment, support, understanding, empathy, frustration, anger, depression, anxiety, stress, isolation, quality of life, self-esteem, financial stability, well-being, speech therapy, language therapy, communication strategies, visual aids, gestures, drawings, professional help, speech therapist, language therapist, social activities, open communication, education, recovery, neurology, brain damage, cognitive impairment, rehabilitation, therapy, cognitive function, communication barriers, expressive aphasia, receptive aphasia, global aphasia, anomic aphasia, primary progressive aphasia, Broca's area, Wernicke's area, language processing, cerebral cortex, brain region, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, listening, conversation, speech, written language, oral language, cognitive-

#APHASIA | Exploring the Effects of Aphasia on Brain Injury #TBI #and Stroke.#https://www.ctbraininjury.com/post/effects-aphasia-brain-injury-tbi-stroke #Explore the impact of aphasia #a communication disorder resulting from brain injury or stroke #on individuals and their relationships. Learn how to provide support and improve the quality of life for those affected.#ABI Resources is a reputable organization that provides exceptional support to individuals and families in collaboration with various gover #including the Connecticut Department of Social Services DSS #COU Community Options #the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services DMHAS #Connecticut Community Care CCC CCCI Southwestern Connecticut Area on Aging SWCAA #Western Connecticut Area on Aging WCAAA #Allied Community Resources ACR #Access Health #and United Services. ABI Resources collaborates care with renowned institutions such as UCONN #Yale #and Hartford. As a community care and supported living provider #ABI Resources is dedicated to offering high-quality and personalized care to enhance the lives of those it serves. Medicaid MFP Money Follo #aphasia #brain injury #stroke #communication #language #traumatic brain injury #neurological disorder #comprehension #speaking #reading #writing

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samwontshare · 3 years

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Honestly Sam is so relatable bc he’s a mental health professional who blatantly ignores his own mental health to caregive for everyone around him and works himself to death.

“YOU CAN’T FEEL SAD IF YOU’RE BUSY” - Sam, probably

#sam wilson #tfatws #I feel you Sam #just bottle it all down no need to address it there are villains afoot #and that boat needed fixing

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allwinsoftsol · 2 years

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Best professional home uses Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists. Bio: Home care is supportive care provided in the home by licensed healthcare professionals who provide medical treatment needs or by professional caregivers who provide daily living assistance for a loved one.

#Professional home care agency

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design-clothing-store · 3 years

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BIOGRAPHY🕴

Jilan Hossain is a young, talented and promising fashion designer of Bangladesh, Canada and USA.He has become the epitome of modern fashion. Jilan’s identity is not confined to being a fashion designer only. Jilan is also deeply involved in the main stream development of the fashion industry.Jilan’s fashion sense was apparent at an early age with the thought that fashion shapes up human personality & also reflects human life style.He has been actively working as a professional fashion designer in Bangladesh, Canada and USA and participating in fashion design workshops, presentations, fairs and exhibitions for the past 13 years.Jilan specially works for the Asian and North American community.His working concept is focus on fusion design on eastern and western fashion outlook specially in Asia,North America and rest of the world.

Jilan was a former student of North South University of BBA department in Dhaka, Bangladesh.He received his higher diploma of Fashion Design from Inter National Institute of Fashion Design I N I F D ] in Dhaka, Bangladesh.He received Diploma in Computer Software degree from APTECH and Diploma in Computer Hardware degree from NIIT in year 2003 and 2004 in Dhaka,Bangladesh.Jilan also recieved his Network Security Analyst degree from INTERCOM ACADEMY on November in year 2014 in Toronto,Canada also he completed Diploma in English Language (ESL) from LINK in Toronto,Canada.He received his Canadian C2 certificate from honourable judge Catrina in Missisaga, Canada in year 2019.Jilan is a member of Toronto Fashion Academy in Canada.

He has participated first group exhibition in Drik Gallery on August 21th in year 2010 in Dhaka, Bangladesh and special guest fashion designer Maheen Khan she was presnted in that exhibition. The exhibition was styled in search of a young talent fashion designer and was organized by Inter National Institute of Fashion Design I N I F D ] on August 20th in year 2010 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.The photo of his first designed dress [ Saree ] was published in “ The Independent ” English news paper on 25th August 2010 in Dhaka.Jilan joined the Designers Association of Fashion & Art [ D A F A ] Dhaka, in year 2011.

Jilan makes no pretense that fashion emerges full blown from the head of one solitary genius". Explaining his clothes, He offers everyone the opportunity to look as good as he does, simply by purchasing his products. He has managed to retain a sense of his own fashion style throughout his career.His success lines in an ability to make a bold statement and he is never afraid to try something new. Jilan has also maintained a sense of humor throughout his designing . He has always believed in kindness and careg. His business and design is a reflection of this philosophy. The Collection features fine fabrics, attention to details and construction and design that allows the wearer's personality to shine through. Simply put, Jilan’s clothing makes you smile.

Jilan has also spent the last 13 years of his career in fashion industry. He has always felt fortunate in his career and never hesitates to answer questions asked by a future fashion designer.Jilan’s design offer a certain unique style, with a modern feminine sensibility, for his devoted base of sensible clients. At a time when true elegance, good manners and seriousness are hard to come by,Jilan is an inspirational figure. Jilan also enjoys a range of outside interests, including languages like: Bangla, English, and Spanish and also Latin dance like: Foxtrot, Sa-Sa-Sa, Tango, Salsa & Waltz. Jilan likes listen to music & watch movies & he also likes traveling.

Jilan is a owner and founder of Jilan fashion house in Dhaka, Bangladesh.He was opened his first fashion house outlet Jilan on June 8th in year 2018 in Twin Tower Concord Shopping Complex in Dhaka,Bangladesh and Bangladeshi fashion icon & ramp model Ruma she was opened Jilan first outlet of Jilan fashion house in Dhaka,Bangladesh. Jilan fashion house grand opening party guest was so excitied and invited all guest they did so much fun and chill in that program,specially Jilan invited different type of celebraties,models,designers, business man journalists,tv channels, also family members and friends. Jilan fashion house grand opening program broadcasted by GTv channel in world media and Bangladeshi Channel i - Lux superstar, model and actress Tonni she was presenter to introduced of Jilan fashion house in world media.

Jilan fashion brand working so faster for men's and women's fashion cloth and accessories to sell his product in market place for different customers in Bangladesh & North American comunity.Jilan is a president of Jilan Group of Companies.His another business runing in Real Estate Industry,Event Industry, Agricultural & Food Industry.His company name is Intense Real Estate Ltd, Spark Event Solution Ltd,Rain Farm & Agro Ltd, Lebanese Shawarma Ltd still running beside Jilan fashion house in market place. Jilans company statement is clear client satisfaction is a main mission & object for his company.

Now he is working as a fashion designer in fashion world and he is a president of Jilan Group of Companies in Bangladesh and North America.

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radiostpete1 · 4 years

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"The Caregivers" w/ Lon Kieffer 1-20-20 Tess Bailey, RN (Caregiver Personality; PROfessional Careg... https://t.co/3sK8q0p13w via @Audioboom

#radiostpete #stpetersburgfl #floridaradio #bestradio #twitter

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gordonwilliamsweb · 4 years

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Lost On The Frontline

America’s health care workers are dying. In some states, medical staff account for as many as 20% of known coronavirus cases. They tend to patients in hospitals, treating them, serving them food and cleaning their rooms. Others at risk work in nursing homes or are employed as home health aides.

Some of them do not survive the encounter. Many hospitals are overwhelmed and some workers lack protective equipment or suffer from underlying health conditions that make them vulnerable to the highly infectious virus.

Many cases are shrouded in secrecy. “Lost on the Frontline” is an ongoing project by Kaiser Health News and The Guardian that aims to document the lives of health care workers in the U.S. who died from COVID 19, and to investigate why so many are victims of the disease.

These are some of the first tragic cases.

Lost On The Frontline

This project aims to document the life of every health care worker in America who dies from COVID-19. If you have a colleague or loved one we should include, please share their story.

Surgical Technician Made Friends Everywhere She Went

(Courtesy of Jorge Casarez)

Monica Echeverri Casarez

Age: 49 Occupation: Surgical technician Place of Work: Detroit Medical Center Harper University Hospital in Detroit Date of Death: April 11, 2020

Monica Echeverri Casarez was in constant motion, said her husband, Jorge Casarez. The daughter of Colombian immigrants, she worked as a Spanish-English interpreter in clinical settings. She was the kind of person whose arrival at a mom and pop restaurant would elicit hugs from the owners. She also co-founded Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week, a nonprofit that supports local businesses.

OSHA Probing Health Worker Deaths But Urges Inspectors To Spare The Penalties Apr 22

True Toll Of COVID-19 On U.S. Health Care Workers Unknown Apr 15

Twice a month, she scrubbed in as a surgical technician at Harper University Hospital. “She liked discovering the beauty of how the body works and how science is clear and orderly,” Casarez said. She was organized and intuitive, qualities that are assets in the operating room. On March 21, she posted a photo of herself in protective gear with the caption: “I’d be lying if I said I wan’t at least a bit nervous to be there now.” Since many elective surgeries had been canceled, Echeverri Casarez was tasked with taking the temperatures of people who walked into the hospital and making sure their hands were sterilized.

Soon after, Echeverri Casarez and Casarez began feeling ill. Quarantined together, Echeverri Casarez tried to make the best of the situation. She baked her husband a cake — chocolate with white frosting. She died a few days later.

— Danielle Renwick, The Guardian | Published April 24, 2020

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A Whip-Smart Neurologist Endlessly Fascinated With The Brain

(Courtesy of Jennifer Sclar)

Gary Sclar

Age: 66 Occupation: Neurologist Place of Work: Mount Sinai Queens in New York City Date of Death: April 12, 2020

Gary Sclar was a whip-smart neurologist who loved comic books, “Game of Thrones” and “Star Wars,” said his daughter, Jennifer Sclar. He was deeply compassionate with a blunt bedside manner.

“My dad was fascinated with the brain and with science,” Jennifer Sclar said. “His work was his passion, and it’s what made him the happiest, besides my brother and me.” Set to retire in June, he was looking forward to writing about politics and neurology.

Gary Sclar saw patients who were showing COVID-19 symptoms and knew his age and underlying health conditions ― he had diabetes — put him at risk for developing complications from the illness. His daughter pleaded with him to stop going to the hospital.

In early April, he mentioned having lost his sense of smell, and on April 8 he collapsed in his home. He was hospitalized a few days later and agreed to be intubated. “I don’t think he realized, like, that this was the end,” Jennifer Sclar said. “He brought his keys. He brought his wallet.”

— Danielle Renwick, The Guardian | Published April 24, 2020

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An Exacting But Loving Aunt, She Was A Mentor Until The End

(Courtesy of Jhoanna Mariel Buendia)

Araceli Buendia Ilagan

Age: 63 Occupation: Intensive care unit nurse Place of Work: Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami Date of Death: March 27, 2020

For Jhoanna Mariel Buendia, her aunt was a constant ― if distant — presence. Araceli Buendia Ilagan emigrated from their hometown Baguio, in the Philippines, to the U.S. before Buendia was born, but she remained close to her family and communicated with them nearly every day.

“She was one of the smartest people I ever knew,” Buendia, 27, said. Buendia Ilagan, who at one point looked into adopting her niece so she could join her and her husband the United States, encouraged Buendia to become a nurse, and talked her through grueling coursework in anatomy and physiology. Buendia is now a nurse in London.

Buendia Ilagan was also demanding. “Whenever she visited the Philippines, she wanted everything to be organized and squeaky-clean,” Buendia said.

The last time the two spoke, in late March, Buendia Ilagan didn’t mention anything about feeling ill. Instead, the two commiserated over their experiences of treating patients with COVID-19; as always, her aunt offered her advice on staying safe while giving the best possible care. She died four days later.

— Danielle Renwick, The Guardian | Published April 22, 2020

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A Beloved Geriatric Psychiatrist And Church Musician Remembered For His Cooking Skills

(Courtesy of Nida Gonzales)

Leo Dela Cruz

Age: 57 Occupation: Geriatric psychiatrist Place of Work: Christ Hospital and CarePoint Health in Jersey City, New Jersey Date of Death: April 8, 2020

Dr. Leo Dela Cruz was nervous about going to work in the weeks before he died, his friends said. Like many in the region, Christ Hospital had an influx of COVID-19 patients and faced a shortage of ventilators and masks.

Dela Cruz was a geriatric psychiatrist and didn’t work in coronavirus wards. But he continued to see patients in person. In early April, Dela Cruz, who lived alone, complained only of migraines, his friends said. Within a week, his condition worsened, and he was put on a ventilator at a nearby hospital. He died soon after.

Friends said he may have been exposed at the hospital. (In a statement, hospital representatives said he didn’t treat COVID-19 patients.)

Dela Cruz, the oldest of 10 siblings, came from a family of health care professionals. His friends and family — from Cebu, Philippines, to Teaneck, New Jersey — remembered his jovial personality on Facebook. He won “best doctor of the year” awards, played tennis and cooked traditional Cebu dishes.

Nida Gonzales, a colleague, said he always supported people, whether funding a student’s education or running a church mental health program. “I feel like I lost a brother,” she said.

— Ankita Rao, The Guardian | Published April 22, 2020

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Alabama Nurse Remembered As Selfless But Sassy

(Courtesy of Amanda Williams)

Rose Harrison

Age: 60 Occupation: Nurse Place of Work: Marion Regional Nursing Home in Hamilton, Alabama Date of Death: April 6, 2020

Rose Harrison, 60, lived to serve others ― her husband, three daughters, grandchildren and the residents of the nursing home where she worked. Though the Alabama nurse was selfless, she also had a sassy edge to her personality and a penchant for road rage, her daughter, Amanda Williams said.

“Her personality was so funny, you automatically loved her,” Williams said. “She was so outspoken. If she didn’t agree with you, she’d tell you in a respectful way.”

Harrison was not wearing a mask when she cared for a patient who later tested positive for COVID-19 at Marion Regional Nursing Home in Hamilton, Alabama, her daughter said. She later developed a cough, fatigue and a low-grade fever, but kept reporting to duty all week. Officials from the nursing home did not return calls for comment.

On April 3, Williams drove her mother to a hospital. The following evening, Harrison discussed the option of going on a ventilator with loved ones on a video call, agreeing it was the best course. Williams believed that her mother fully expected to recover. She died April 6.

— Christina Jewett, Kaiser Health News | Published April 22, 2020

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Connecticut Social Worker Had Angelic Singing Voice And A Zest For Life

(Courtesy of the Hunt family)

Curtis Hunt

Age: 57 Occupation: Social worker Places of Work: Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center and New Reach, both in New Haven, Connecticut Date of Death: March 23, 2020

At a shelter for adults recovering from addiction, residents looked forward to the days when Marion “Curtis” Hunt would take the stage, emceeing talent shows and belting out Broadway and gospel tunes.

It wasn’t part of his job description as a social worker. It was just one of the ways he went “above and beyond,” said his supervisor at Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, Daena Murphy. “He had a beautiful voice,” she said. “He was just a wonderful person — funny, engaging, always a huge smile on his face.”

Hunt, the youngest of four brothers, earned his master’s in social work from Fordham University at 52, and was baptized at his brother’s Pentecostal church at 54. He was a devoted uncle who doted on his dog and cat, Mya and Milo.

It’s unclear how Hunt got infected, but one patient he worked with had tested positive for COVID-19, as did two co-workers, according to Dr. Ece Tek, another supervisor at Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center. Hunt died on March 23, one week after developing flu-like symptoms, said his brother John Mann Jr.

— Melissa Bailey | Published April 22, 2020

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To The End, King-Smith Was Driven By A Desire To Help Others

(Courtesy of Hassana Salaam-Rivers)

Kim King-Smith

Age: 53 Occupation: Electrocardiogram technician Place of Work: University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey Date of Death: March 31, 2020

Kim King-Smith was a natural caregiver. An only child, she grew up close to her extended family, including her cousins Hassana Salaam-Rivers and Sharonda Salaam. After Salaam developed multiple sclerosis, King-Smith visited her every day.

“She’d bring her sweets that she wasn’t supposed to have and share them with her,” Salaam-Rivers said. King-Smith’s desire to care for others was the reason she became an electrocardiogram technician, her cousin added. “If a friend of a friend or family member went to the hospital, she would always go and visit them as soon as her shift was over,” she said.

In March, King-Smith cared for a patient she said had symptoms of COVID-19; she soon fell ill herself and tested positive for the virus. It seemed like a mild case at first, and she stayed in touch with family via FaceTime while trying to isolate from her husband, Lenny.

On March 29, Salaam-Rivers checked in on her cousin and noticed she was struggling to breathe. She urged her to call an ambulance. After King-Smith was hospitalized, she exchanged text messages with her mother and cousin. As the day progressed, her messages carried increasingly grave news, Salaam-Rivers said. Then she stopped responding.

— Danielle Renwick, The Guardian | Published April 22, 2020

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On The Eve Of Retirement, VA Nurse Succumbs To COVID-19

(Courtesy of Mark Accad)

Debbie Accad

Age: 72 Occupation: Clinical nursing coordinator Place of Work: Detroit VA Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan Date of Death: March 30, 2020

Nurse Divina “Debbie” Accad had cared for veterans for over 25 years and was set to retire in April. But after contracting the novel coronavirus, she spent her final 11 days on a ventilator — and didn’t survive past March.

She joined a growing list of health care professionals working on the front lines of the pandemic who have died from COVID-19.

Accad, 72, a clinical nursing coordinator at the Detroit VA Medical Center, dedicated her life to nursing, according to her son Mark Accad.

“She died doing what she loved most,” he said. “That was caring for people.”

She was born Divina Amo in the Philippine town of Alimodian, known for its sweet bananas. The eldest of four children, she was a precocious student. She finished high school at age 14 and had to wait a year to pursue her dream of nursing school. She graduated from Central Philippine University with a bachelor’s in nursing in 1969.

Yearning to move abroad, she applied to a “fly now, pay later” program for nurses and landed a job in Chicago, joining tens of thousands of Filipino nurses who have migrated to the United States. She later moved to Taylor, Michigan, where she married William Accad in 1985 and raised four children with him.

Her niece April Amada lives in Accad’s hometown. She remembers her aunt as a generous cook: A visit from Tita Debbie (Aunt Debbie) meant unli-kainan, or “unlimited food”: She served up big American breakfasts, cooked spicy kielbasa with cabbage and introduced her family to Jell-O.

Accad was the “pillar of the family,” Amada said, improving their quality of life by sending home money, and even supporting her younger sister through nursing school.

Amada said her aunt first signaled she was sick on the evening of March 16, telling relatives she had a fever and loose stool. On March 19, she reported feeling better by taking Tylenol. But the following day, she was hospitalized with pneumonia, a complication of COVID-19. She told her family in the Philippines that she had tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus and asked them to pray for her and to spread the word to local pastors, Amada said.

Amada, who is also a nurse, said her family felt helpless watching their beloved matriarch suffer from afar, and being unable to travel to her bedside because of the infectious nature of the disease. They last saw her face on a video call.

Mark Accad, 36, who lives across the street from his parents, said his mother had diabetes, a risk factor for serious complications from COVID-19. In her last phone call with him, he said, she was preoccupied with her family’s health more than her own. But he could hear in her voice that she was worried.

“It’s just terrible that we all couldn’t be there for her,” he said.

Mark Accad said he believes his mother was exposed by infected co-workers, though that hasn’t been confirmed. She was a nursing supervisor who often stepped in to care for patients, he said.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is facing serious shortages in protective equipment for its health care workers, according to internal memos obtained by The Wall Street Journal. Mark Accad said he doesn’t know whether his mother had adequate protective gear.

In a statement, the Detroit VA Medical Center declined to comment on Accad’s case, citing privacy concerns, but confirmed that an employee of her age died from coronavirus complications.

The VA has “implemented appropriate measures to ensure the safest health care environment for each Veteran, visitor and employee,” including immediately isolating patients known to be at risk for a COVID-19 infection. As of Monday, nine VA health care workers systemwide had died of COVID-19 complications, and over 1,500 were being quarantined because of coronavirus infections, according to VA spokesperson Christina Noel.

Mark Accad said he would like his mother’s story to raise awareness of the risks health care workers face in the global pandemic.

“She’s a hero for what she did,” he said.

— Melissa Bailey | Published April 15, 2020

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California Nurse Thrived In ER and ICU, But Couldn’t Survive COVID-19

(Courtesy of the Baumbach family)

Jeff Baumbach

Age: 57 Occupation: Nurse Place of Work: St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, California Date of Death: March 31, 2020

Jeff Baumbach, 57, was a seasoned nurse of 28 years when the novel coronavirus began to circulate in California. He’d worked in the ER, the ICU and on a cardiac floor. Hepatitis and tuberculosis had been around over the years but never posed a major concern. He’d cared for patients who had tuberculosis.

Jeff and his wife, Karen Baumbach, also a nurse, initially didn’t consider it significantly riskier than challenges they’d faced for years.

“He’d worked in the ICU. He was exposed to so many things, and we never got anything,” she said. “This was just ramping up.”

One day during work, Jeff sent a sarcastic text to his wife: “I love wearing a mask every day.”

Within weeks, he would wage a difficult and steady fight against the virus that ended with a sudden collapse. Across the U.S., dozens of other health care workers have died, according to reports compiled by The Guardian and Kaiser Health News. The CDC has not yet issued a full tally, and many states have said little about how many health workers are dying.

Jeff was working at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, California, about an hour south of Sacramento, where he was a case manager for Kaiser Permanente patients treated there. (Kaiser Health News is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.)

In mid-March, Jeff and his wife traveled to New York City to help their younger son, one of four adult children, settle into an apartment. As they were leaving, bars and restaurants were starting to shut down. The feeling set in that something serious was taking place.

Back home, Karen said her husband was notified that he may have been around a co-worker who tested positive for the coronavirus. Jeff would need to wear a mask. On March 23, he called in sick. The next day, he was told to get a COVID-19 test.

Jeff’s test was positive. Soon after, so was Karen’s. The couple hunkered down together at home, Karen with body aches and congestion and Jeff with a fever and cough.

Their home had been the site of countless family brunches and barbecues, for which Jeff was often the chef. It was where he solved massive jigsaw puzzles with his kids, sealed them together and put them on the ceiling of the garage.

Kaila Baumbach, 26, the last child living in their Lodi home, had moved out as a precaution. She and her dad were close. They had gotten tattoos together on a family trip to Hawaii. Hers, a peace sign. His had two large Celtic hearts and four smaller ones to represent his children. Kaila said she didn’t text or call her dad when he was sick.

“I thought he was invincible,” she said during a phone interview, through tears.

Karen took Jeff to the emergency room on March 26, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia, but chose to recuperate at home. On March 31, he collapsed in an upstairs bathroom.

“It was just like that,” Karen said. “It went downhill really fast.”

Karen called 911 and went with him to Adventist Health Lodi Memorial, the hospital where she worked. She sat in her car getting updates by phone. Kaila waited in another car.

The ventilator Jeff was connected to had little effect and he remained unresponsive.

When it seemed hopeless, Karen went in, suited with full protective medical gear, and told Jeff, her husband of 33 years, she loved him. The kids love him. And she was sorry.

“We both sat here all those days with him getting worse before my eyes and me not seeing it,” she said. “The doctor reassured me that several times people have seemed to be OK and then they just fall off and then it’s just too late.”

Karen returned home alone, still in quarantine.

The next day, Kaila organized about 50 family and loved ones to drive by the couple’s home and shine their phone flashlights to show support. Karen’s mother, Sharleen Leal, called her at 8 p.m.: “Look outside.”

Karen looked out an upstairs window. Lights from lines of cars going in both directions on the avenue shone bright. Grieving, and awash with gratitude, she cried.

— Christina Jewett, Kaiser Health News | Published April 15, 2020

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Nurse’s Faith Led Her To Care For Prisoners At A New Jersey Jail

(Courtesy of Denise Rendor)

Daisy Doronila

Age: 60 Occupation: Nurse Place of Work: Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny, New Jersey Date of Death: April 5, 2020

Daisy Doronila had a different perspective than most who worked at the Hudson County Correctional Facility, a New Jersey lockup 11 miles from Manhattan. It was a place where the veteran nurse could put her Catholic faith into action, showing kindness to marginalized people.

“There would be people there for the most heinous crimes,” said her daughter, Denise Rendor, 28, “but they would just melt towards my mother because she really was there to give them care with no judgment.”

Doronila, 60, died April 5, two weeks after testing positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The jail has been hit hard by the virus, with 27 inmates and 68 staff members having tested positive. Among those, another nurse, a correctional officer and a clerk also died, according to Ron Edwards, Hudson County’s director of corrections.

Doronila fell ill before the scope of the jail infections were known. She was picking up extra shifts in the weeks before, her daughter said, and planning on a trip to Israel soon with friends from church.

That plan began to fall apart March 14, when someone at the jail noticed her coughing and asked her to go home and visit a doctor.

Doronila, of Nutley, New Jersey, went to her doctor and a local hospital in the coming days but was told she had strep throat, so she wouldn’t get a coronavirus test. Then she was told her fever wasn’t high enough to merit a test.

Edwards, the jail chief, said Doronila offered to come back to work after she started feeling ill, not wanting to let him down. He told her to stay home and rest.

“She was one of my hardest workers,” he said, describing her as sophisticated, intelligent and compassionate. “Daisy could handle herself. If someone got obnoxious with her, she’d put them in their place and call for help if she needed to.”

As days went by in March, her condition got worse. Feeling breathless, she went to an urgent care center on March 21.

Her oxygen saturation level was 77 ― far below levels that should be close to 100 — so she was sent by ambulance to the hospital. The next day, she was transferred to the ICU, where she was put on a ventilator, never to talk to her family again.

Rendor, who was not allowed to visit her mother, said time crawled as she awaited updates from nurses and doctors.

On her fifth day in the hospital, her mother went into cardiac arrest and was revived. On Day Nine, she was put on dialysis.

By Day 14, it was futile.

Rendor said her mother emigrated from the Philippines as a young nurse. She loved to dress in fashionable clothes and eat seafood on the waterfront in New York City.

The two loved to shop together and were looking forward to the next chapters in life. For the mother, retirement at 65. For Rendor, marriage and perhaps starting her own family.

“It was about to get really, really good,” Rendor said.

— Christina Jewett, Kaiser Health News | Published April 15, 2020

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An Army Veteran, Hospital Custodian ‘Loved Helping People’

(Courtesy of Michelle Wilcox)

Alvin Simmons

Age: 54 Occupation: Environmental service assistant Place of Work: Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York Death: March 17, 2020

Alvin Simmons started working as a custodian at Rochester General Hospital, in New York state, weeks before he fell ill. “He loved helping people and he figured the best place to do that would be in a hospital,” his sister, Michelle Wilcox said.

An Army veteran who had served in the first Gulf War, Simmons loved karaoke and doted on his three grandchildren, Wilcox said. “He was a dedicated, hardworking individual who had just changed his life around” since a prison stint, she said.

According to Wilcox, Simmons began developing symptoms shortly after cleaning the room of a woman he believed was infected with the novel coronavirus. “Other hospital employees did not want to clean the room because they said they weren’t properly trained” to clean the room of someone potentially infected, she said. “They got my brother from a different floor, because he had just started there,” she said. (In an email, a hospital spokesperson said they had “no evidence to suggest that Mr. Simmons was at a heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19 by virtue of his training or employment duties at RGH.”)

On March 11, he visited the emergency room at Rochester General, where he was tested for COVID-19, Wilcox said. Over the next few days, as he rested at his girlfriend’s home, his breathing became more labored and he began to cough up blood. He was rushed to the hospital on March 13, where he was later declared brain-dead. Subsequently, he received a COVID-19 diagnosis. Simmons died on March 17.

— Danielle Renwick, The Guardian | Published April 15, 2020

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Nurse At Nevada VA Dies After Caring For Infected Colleague

(Courtesy of Bob Thompson)

Vianna Thompson

Age: 52 Occupation: Nurse Places of Work: VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System and Northern Nevada Medical Center in Reno, Nevada Date of Death: April 7, 2020

Nurse Vianna Thompson, 52, spent two night shifts caring for a fellow Veterans Affairs health care worker who was dying from COVID-19.

Two weeks later, she too was lying in a hospital intensive care unit, with a co-worker holding her hand as she died.

Thompson and the man she treated were among three VA health care workers in Reno, Nevada, to die in two weeks from complications of the novel coronavirus.

“It’s pretty devastating. It’s surreal. Reno’s not that big of a city,” said Robyn Underhill, a night nurse who worked with Thompson in the ER at Reno’s VA hospital the past two years.

Thompson, who dreamed of teaching nursing one day, died April 7, joining a growing list of health care professionals killed in the pandemic.

Born Vianna Fye in Port Huron, Michigan, she became a go-getter nurse who worked almost exclusively at night, putting in five or six 12-hour shifts a week, according to her husband, Bob Thompson, 60.

The couple met in 1991 on the Osan Air Base in South Korea, where he was an inventory management specialist in the Air Force, and she was a veterinary technician in the Army, caring for military police dogs. They bonded over two-step dancing and country music.

Vianna was a “proud momma,” often showing off photos and videos of their three sons on her phone, her husband said. As the main breadwinner for over eight years, she juggled two jobs to make sure her boys had everything they needed, including saxophones, drums and keyboards so they could play jazz and country music. “She was just sweet, big-hearted, caring, unselfish,” he said.

Before she died, Thompson was working two jobs: full time in the ER at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System in Reno, and part time in the ICU at Northern Nevada Medical Center.

In the ICU, she tended to a fellow VA health care worker who had fallen ill with COVID-19, according to nurse Underhill. Two days later, on March 29, Thompson arrived at work with a cough.

“She came to work sick, and we were all very concerned,” Underhill said. “Call it intuition, call it ‘Spidey sense,’ but I knew that moment that she was coughing that this was not going to end well.”

Underhill said Thompson already had a slight smoker’s cough, so she may have overlooked the fact that her cough was a classic symptom of COVID-19.

“She was in denial that she was taking care of this high-risk population,” Underhill said. And she was reluctant to miss work.

That Sunday shift would be Thompson’s last. Over the next four days, she wrestled with fever, weakness and shortness of breath. The following Thursday, she texted her husband from the bedroom: “Call the ambulance, I can hardly breathe.”

She was taken to the VA hospital where she worked and immediately sedated and put on a ventilator.

The next Tuesday, her organs were failing and it was time to remove life support, her husband said. They connected him on FaceTime to say goodbye, and a nurse held her hand as she died.

As a veteran, she qualified for an “honor flight,” in which the patient’s body is covered with a black box, draped with an American flag and wheeled through the hospital while others line up and salute.

Because of the infectious nature of the coronavirus, a flag could not be safely draped over her body, so someone walked in front of her with a flag.

Bob Thompson said the honor flight ceremony drew more people into the hallways than staff had seen in 20 years, “all the way from the ICU to the morgue.”

“God’s getting a hell of a nurse,” he said.

— Melissa Bailey | Published April 15, 2020

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Dr. J. Ronald Verrier Was Busy Saving Lives Before The Pandemic

(Courtesy of Christina Pardo)

J. Ronald Verrier

Age: 59 Occupation: Surgeon Place of Work: St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, New York Date of Death: April 8, 2020

Dr. J. Ronald Verrier, a surgeon at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, spent the final weeks of his audacious, unfinished life tending to a torrent of patients inflicted with COVID-19. He died April 8 at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside, New York, at age 59, after falling ill from the novel coronavirus.

Verrier led the charge even as the financially strapped St. Barnabas Hospital struggled to find masks and gowns to protect its workers — many nurses continue to make cloth masks — and makeshift morgues in the parking lot held patients who had died.

“He did a good work,” said Jeannine Sherwood, a nurse manager at St. Barnabas Hospital who worked closely with Verrier.

“He can rest.”

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Verrier graduated from the Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie in 1986 and trained at Lincoln Medical Center in the Bronx. He worked at St. Barnabas for two decades, performing thousands of surgeries on critically ill patients and trauma victims, while overseeing the general surgery residency program.

A towering presence with a wide, dimpled smile, Verrier watched his large flock closely — popping into patients’ rooms for impromptu birthday parties, pressing his medical school residents to sharpen their surgical skills and extinguishing doubt in bright, young minds.

“He kept pushing me forward,” said Dr. Christina Pardo, a cousin who became an obstetrician and gynecologist. “I would call him and say, ‘I swear I failed that test,’ and he would laugh. He was my confidence when I didn’t have it.”

“He was someone you’d love to see if you were having a bad day,” said Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh, chairman of the Department of Surgery at SBH Health System. “He would comfort your heart.”

The Verrier family stretches across continents — a boisterous crew of cousins who grew up as brothers and sisters, a pot of joumou, a spicy Haitian soup, always boiling somewhere.

Verrier, who spoke English, French and Creole, zipped around to a niece’s wedding in Belgium, a baptism in Florida, another wedding in Montreal. In February, he ferried medical supplies to Haiti, returning to St. Barnabas to fortify the hospital for the surge of coronavirus patients.

Verrier helped steer the hospital’s efforts to increase — by 500% — the number of critically ill patients it could care for, an effort he worked on until he became ill.

“He was at the hospital every day,” Shabsigh said. “This was a nonstop effort, day and night.”

Verrier discovered he was infected in early April. After developing symptoms, he worked from his Woodmere, New York, home.

Undaunted, he did not want to talk about being sick. “He has this personality that, ‘Everything is going to be OK,’” said Pardo.

Shabsigh spoke with him the day before his death.

“He understood the coronavirus, he understood the pandemic,” he said. “He still maintained a high morale and hope that he would recover.”

When his condition worsened suddenly, according to Pardo, Verrier was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he died.

After a powerful earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, Verrier tended to victims, treating dozens of patients who required amputations at a Port-au-Prince hospital.

“Sometimes you use a little anesthesia and you cut the limb,” Verrier said soberly in a video recorded at the time. “Because you have to save a life.”

— Sarah Varney, Kaiser Health News | Published April 15, 2020

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America’s First ER Doctor To Die In The Heat Of COVID-19 Battle

(Courtesy of Debra Vasalech Lyons)

Frank Gabrin

Age: 60 Occupation: Doctor Places of Work: St. John’s Episcopal in Queens, New York, and East Orange General in New Jersey Date of Death: March 26, 2020

At about 5 a.m. on March 19, a New York City ER physician named Frank Gabrin texted a friend about his concerns over the lack of medical supplies at hospitals.

“It’s busy ― everyone wants a COVID test that I do not have to give them,” he wrote in the message to Eddy Soffer. “So they are angry and disappointed.”

Worse, though, was the limited availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) — the masks and gloves that help keep health care workers from getting sick and spreading the virus to others. Gabrin said he had no choice but to don the same mask for several shifts, against Food and Drug Administration guidelines.

“Don’t have any PPE that has not been used,” he wrote. “No N95 masks ― my own goggles — my own face shield,” he added, referring to the N95 respirators considered among the best lines of defense.

Less than two weeks later, Gabrin became the first ER doctor in the U.S. known to have died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians.