By: American Nurses Association

First of all, I would like to thank the American Nurses Foundation and Johnson & Johnson for extending your help. This is the first time that I’ve ever received help from any organization and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am.

I am originally from the Philippines. I grew up with a sister who is a nurse and her passion for helping people in need inspired me to also become a nurse as well. For me, nursing isn’t simply a profession — it’s a vocation.

I arrived in the US in 1987, leaving my husband and son behind to pursue my vocation and a better life for them. Adjusting to American culture and weather, especially the cold winter, was not easy. I shed many tears on lonely nights missing my family. Life was not easy, but I was able to survive.

Looking back on that time helped me to build up the strength I’ve needed to serve others and fight COVID-19 alongside my fellow nurses and medical professionals.

I currently serve as a Nurse Care Manager. I help place patients and assist families in placing their loved ones in nursing homes or rehab centers. Coordinating their care and calling insurance companies to secure coverage can be quite challenging, especially now.

Being a nurse during a pandemic is tough. We are not immune from the disease we are fighting every day. In fact, like many nurses and their families, my husband and I both contracted COVID-19 and were fortunate to fully recover.

My husband and I are back to work and amidst all the fear and chaos, life goes on. We continue to be careful to protect ourselves and take necessary precautions like wearing masks, frequently washing our hands, using hand sanitizer, practicing social distancing, and avoiding crowded places. We try boosting our immune systems with vitamins C and D, selenium, zinc, and magnesium. Each day at home after work, we leave our shoes outside the house, remove our clothes in the laundry area and take warm showers. We inhale the steam from a pot of boiled water with salt — it’s an ancient practice in the Philippines that is said to help clear your nasal passages and throat. This is our daily routine during the pandemic.

Back in the Philippines, I have a feeding ministry. There are so many hungry children there, especially during the pandemic. The country is in a total lockdown. There are no jobs, the government is poor, and parents are having trouble feeding their children. The money I received from this grant is being used to help my ministry feed families. Because of your help, I was able to purchase sacks of rice, canned goods, and masks that were distributed to groups of poor families.

Thank you, American Nurses Foundation and Johnson & Johnson for your help. God bless you.

Please give today to the Coronavirus Response Fund, so we can help every nurse combat the mental, emotional, physical and financial stress this pandemic has caused.

Categories: Nurse News