The days all roll together, one after another in a seemingly never-ending succession. My professional life ping pongs from keeping my practice of patients cared for to twelve hour shifts in the Intensive Care Unit. Sprinkled in the cracks are weekly shifts in the Respiratory Care Clinic, teaching responsibilities with medical students and resident physicians from the Washington University School of Medicine and my usual monthly volunteer visits to Casa de Salud, a Spanish Speaking medical clinic. I have never been so busy. The demand has never been so great. As tired as I sometimes get, I have never felt that my skills have been so needed. It has been invigorating and yet I realize that I can't keep up this pace long term. One truth stands clear and tall above all others: I could not fulfill any of these responsibilities without amazing people that support me and my colleagues during this intense time. They are my hero helpers.
First and foremost, I pay tribute to my wife and
family. She has been by my side in this
journey since before medical school. We
married when I still had two more years of undergraduate school to
complete. I distinctly remember being
told that I would never make it to Medical School having married so young. Our first child was born before I finished
college. We welcomed our other three in the years that followed. In medical
school, I was able to focus completely on my studies because my home life was always
taken care of. My wife and I always
considered that "we" graduated from medical school. It was truly a team effort. It has been no
different in the years that followed. During these busy days of the COVID pandemic
she has been my rock and my support.
My nurse practitioner has been crucial for me to be able to work away from the office. The heavy load that I normally carry has landed squarely on her shoulders. I am grateful for the trust that she has developed with my patients and her "can do" attitude. We both feel so fortunate to work with our assistants who anticipate what we need, take care of the details and keep us smiling even when we may want to cry. Our secretary makes sure things get done. She can sweet talk her way into referrals, tests or anything we throw her way. It is truly a team effort.
At the end of each day, I make my way to the back of the office to change out of scrubs and clean up before going home. Every single night, our cleaning team is there sanitizing the office so we can do it all again the next day. I am greeted with smiles and wished a good night. They too have to live with the threat of exposure to this unseen virus. Their position is not as visible as mine and certainly not as frequently praised. Let me raise my voice to say, "God bless all of our house keeping staff both at the office and at the hospital."
Just as I have support staff at the office, those that work day after day in the Respiratory Care Clinic (RCC) make my heart swell with emotion and pride. More dangerous than even the ICU where most patients have been in the hospital long enough that they are frankly not likely to be contagious anymore, those that come to the
RCC are often at the height of their ability to infect others. Many of the patients are in pain, they are scared and feeling poorly. Our do-it-all secretary greets them on the phone, when they come in the door, and calms their fears with persistent cheerfulness. Our medical assistants efficiently take my orders as I come out of the exam room, process the labs and x-rays and keep things running smoothly. Without this clinic the only real option would be the emergency room.
My colleagues and I who have worked in the Intensive Care Units these last few months have been impressed beyond measure by the nurses who work with us. The critical care doctors will give us back up if we need it, but the nurses are the ones by our side day by day, hour by hour and minute by
minute. It is hard to explain to others how sick COVID patients can get. These nurses have been in the thick of this pandemic from day one. We rejoice over those who recover but they have to face death on a nearly daily basis. These nurses are awesome. They have been battle tested, are resilient and deserve all the adulation that we can give them. When they come to me and say, "Dr. Fuller, do you think it would be good if..." the answer is pretty much always, "of course, what do you think is best?" When a patient can't breath, they are the first ones to their side. When families call, they are the ones to answer the phone. The nurses make sure that medicines are given on time, the monitors are working correctly, and that the patients are fed, cleaned and bathed. They are heroes indeed!
Lastly, I pay tribute to my fellow physicians who have
repeatedly stepped up, pitched in and gone the extra mile. I am more than proud to be numbered among
them. I have never felt a greater sense of camaraderie and togetherness. We are living through an experience that has
been unlike any other. Our vocation is
no longer just a career, it is truly a profession.
All of us are in this fight together. We in the health care system are more than tired
of this virus. This
pandemic will end but not anytime soon. In the meantime please wear your mask,
keep your distance, be careful and get vaccinated when you are able. Above
all else, know that my heroes will be here to care for you and your loved ones.
