Tammy Eichner, the director of nursing at Galax Health and Rehab, wrote a guest column for the Galax Gazette about navigating her facility through a COVID-19 outbreak. She also recently recovered from COVID-19, which she contracted while caring for her residents.

Read the full column by Eichner: Long-term care nurses on frontline of COVID-19 crisis (galaxgazette.com, June 23, 2020)

It saddens me to see the public opinion of our facility and to hear people say things like, “if my mom was there, I’d get her out.”

It is so hurtful to receive criticism for the work that is done behind these walls. Without being here to witness firsthand, no one will ever see the true story. Our story and our voice will remain silent, except for those who have experienced it.

No one will know that, unlike many of the patients in intensive care unit beds across America, our residents were not alone. They were not isolated even though they were on isolation precautions. No. They continued to be bathed, have lotions applied, turned, changed, fed, visited and most importantly, loved.

Our residents had their hands held. They had their hair brushed. They were sung to and prayed with. Staff members sat with them even off the clock to comfort them in their final moments. Staff mourned their final breaths.

No one will know how our staff cried as they sorted through a residents’ cherished memories and boxed them up, remembering how “she wore that necklace to bingo” or “that scarf to see Elvis.”

No one will see our staff members in their personal protective equipment (PPE) weeping, trying to comfort one another from six feet apart until the end of their shifts so they could get to their cars to break down. They won’t see our teammates returning to the facility the next day with swollen eyes from the tears of crying for the loss of these loved souls. Masks don’t hide that.

No one will understand the feeling of failure, even though all precautions were taken; that feeling that you didn’t do enough, even though your community is ravaged and not having a fighting chance to be able to keep it out. It is like trying to keep out a tornado.

No one will know the devastation of calling a family to tell them to come see mom or dad because, even though visitation is not allowed, you are making an exception because you don’t think their loved one will be here tomorrow. It’s the right thing to do, even though family members must wear full PPE and not physically touch their loved one.

We believe that for all of our patients, there should be comfort and dignity in death, regardless of age or life expectancy.

No one will know this hell, but they will gladly pass judgment.

Our staff members embody professionalism, dedication and love. The phrase “hero” has been thrown around a lot. If you could come visit my staff and hear their stories, you would know what a true hero looks like.

There will never be words to thank our long-term care providers for going above and beyond as they serve our most vulnerable population during this health crisis, selflessly accepting the risk that providing care poses to themselves and their loved ones.

Those are the real heroes.