We as a community, country, and world have never been more rocked by an invisible invader like COVID-19. With most schools in California closed, many have been forced to practice the new normal with social distancing. 

And although many of us are learning or working from home, there are those brave men and women on the front lines fighting the spread of COVID-19. 

Our medical responders have dedicated themselves to not only our communities but the world in fighting this war. Through the last couple of weeks, I’m sure many have grown curious about how first responders are feeling. 

I was lucky enough to be able to talk to a local ER nurse in our community, Lauren Pitts, who works at Marin Health and who is also my godmother. 

In our discussion, I asked Lo and a multitude of different questions, including: how were critical patients, without COVID-19 being taken care of? In response, she said, “The emergency room is full of patients who do not have COVID-19. We put these patients on separate floors and units. With the hospitals that do have many COVID-19 cases, like in Santa Clara County, there is a separate ICU floor or makeshift area of the hospital that isolates all the COVID-19 patients.”

For first responders like Pitts, one of the biggest challenges with their current positions is trying to keep their own families safe. After coming home, she immediately has to strip all her clothes in the garage and go take a shower. Like many people in her position, she has to balance work life with family life. 

“From the Lens of a medical person; no one goes into this field to be a hero or martyr,” Pitts said. “We go into this because it’s our drive in life to try and help, we are helpers by nature. Medical people are torn. People are dying alone and we can’t comfort them. We are right there with you through healing and death, holding your hand, but with COVID-19, we can’t hold you.”