A caring Son

My Son John posted this for his friends on Facebook. I just had to re post it.

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**[John Sproul]('https://www.facebook.com/FOADBHO?__tn__=%2CdlC-R-R&eid=ARD-0orI9KhND3v57rGlHarHJ8q3fiC0ra_IDhhPfbAzzp-5NMvgc45IXb-_GRSArAi27YUfGRZsXpzU&hc_ref=ARSczTxOqg1DFqBCNgQN9acbakBllQDpJAY5DEolyMUqQw0UaSo-6IUJApaZzlaT59g&ref=nf_target') is with [Katherin Moffett Sproul]('https://www.facebook.com/katherin.sproul?__tn__=%2CdlC-R-R&eid=ARCVcZnHE4enggfnR-tdBR5a5f4O3naXNPBqX5VsjozeC5YMecV6iItA1jogv8357vdojDh3a1DDDZA8&hc_ref=ARSczTxOqg1DFqBCNgQN9acbakBllQDpJAY5DEolyMUqQw0UaSo-6IUJApaZzlaT59g&ref=nf_target').**

[3 hrs]('https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10222618719922967&set=a.3468196789930&type=3') ·

This is my wife Kati. For those who don’t know her, she is an Intensivist (ICU doctor)/Anesthesiologist at a large academic medical center. In this picture she is preparing to do an aerosolizing procedure on a potential COVID-19 patient. Everyday, in her job, she does amazing things like this. This is what doing her job looks like. It’s hard, can be extremely unforgiving of any mistakes made, and has the potential (at times) to be dangerous. She still goes in to work and does her job. During a pandemic, the ICU physician undoubtedly falls under the umbrella of “essential employee” and have been referred to as the “generals” in the fight against the disease we are currently facing. There are no words to describe what she and her colleagues see and do on a regular day let alone during these times. The team that she is a part of here is, for all intents and purposes, nothing short of amazing in the quality of care and comfort they provide to patients and their families.

All of this comes at a price for the providers though. Death is part of their daily lives. They know everyday, walking in to work, that a portion of their patients may be unlikely to survive. Declaring brain death, making end of life decisions over video conference with patients’ families, managing the sickest of the sick patients in the state, all while maintaining a “normal” life is hard at times. It’s even harder now. Fatigue, both physical and mental, can take their toll on everyone in this line of work. As my wife’s team gets ready for the next wave of COVID-19 patients they are prepared with a well-developed plan to help as many people as possible and do their job to the best of their ability. It’s hard for a physician to lose a patient, even when it’s expected. The coming weeks will see more deaths than average due to this virus and that, too, will be stressful on our healthcare providers.

Both a Kati and I believe that the term “hero” is thrown around a little too liberally most of the time. She will not accept the title for herself. But she does understand the importance of her work. Regardless of her thoughts on the matter, she IS a hero to me, and to our children, and to many of her patients whether or not she will allow the term to define her. She claims, rightfully so, that “it’s not about me, it’s about doing the right thing for the patient”. Thankfully, she is not the only one who feels this way. Many that work under the broad and often overly vague umbrella of “healthcare worker” are heroes to their families. In their mind, they are just going to work and doing their job in the face of fear and uncertainty. They will all need some support over the coming weeks.

I ask a favor of anyone anyone who has friends on the front lines to check in on them, see if there’s anything they need, ask if they want to talk. These individuals have dedicated their lives to helping others. They still show up and do their job. I want to make sure they can continue to do so during a difficult time for them. Do it for your personal hero. They will appreciate it more than you may ever know.

Stay safe and thanks again to those who continue to do their job despite not knowing what the future holds.

[ ]('https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10222618719922967&set=a.3468196789930&type=3&eid=ARAovqkvOX7NG5bEpCO8ZtIaEA6Mh7f0lfmWg5W43wOm_M0yXMom8sjXLhz67Yyl14linugu6-o3UkAw'). [ATTACH type="full"]18204[/ATTACH]