Well Read Black Girl

We usually only take 2 patients because our patients are the sickest and are fighting for their lives. Last night I had to take 3 very ill patients because my co workers were assigned patients diagnosed with #COVID19. We were issued mask that don’t protect us from the virus.

The look on our charge nurse’s face was that of extreme sadness and guilt. She knew just like we did that if another patient came up (there is a constant flow) we would be exposed and that thin yellow mask wouldn’t protect us. I took the mask. Something is better than nothing.

I have an 11 month old baby girl that misses me. By the time my work week ends I will have worked 6-12 hour shifts in a row. That’s IF I’m not exposed or start showing symptoms. What happens to my babygirl if I come home and expose her before I have symptoms? What happens to me?

We are already tapped out. We need help. I put my life on the line for my countrymen. I’m not a millionaire...I am a nurse. I will never be a millionaire. I don’t own banks, hedge funds, hotels or airlines. I will never donate one red cent to @JohnCornyn.

I save lives. That may be “blah blah blah” to @JohnCornyn. He obviously doesn’t care that right here in Houston, Texas we are more vulnerable than we’ve ever been. He doesn’t care about the families that are worried about food cost, mortgages, car notes and healthcare.

@JohnCornyn and his @GOP are leveraging our lives to bail out their millionaire/billionaire friends and donors. OUR LIVES. If we make it through this, make a pledge right now to rid the halls of Congress of this infestation that eats away at our dreams of democracy.

As I was leaving, another patient with #coronavirus was coding. There were a few who had the PPE they needed and went to help. The rest of us stood there, outside the glass door, watching our teammates fight to save a Texan’s life. We. Were. Powerless.

My hands are shaking and tears are rolling down my face. This is wrong. I didn’t become a nurse to watch people die. I’m risking it all to fight #COVID19. The very least @JohnCornyn could do is not mock the lives of Texans who are stepping up.

The human thing to do is honor the lives of your fellow Texans who have died and do everything you can to prevent #OneMoreDeath.