Finding hope and purpose in pandemic

As a medical student, I have observed the pandemic with a mixture of frustration that I did not yet have the skills necessary to assist with clinical care and appreciation for the health care providers who

continued to bravely do their jobs. In late March, my classmates and I received a notification that we were temporarily prohibited from entering the hospital.

Now, as we prepare to re-enter the hospital setting, I have taken three lessons from my time on the sidelines that I will apply to my training — and my life.

First, I have noticed how small gestures matter.

I was moved by stories of nurses who used their own phones so that critically ill patients could FaceTime with loved ones and of doctors who called family members periodically to keep them abreast of a patient’s status.

As I continue to develop professionally, I recognize that while I lack the expertise to make health care decisions, I can use my time to help patients feel more comfortable.

I can still make a difference, and so can we all.

Second, I understand even more deeply that every life must be celebrated. Initially, I was perplexed by videos of cheering squads when a patient was released from a hospital; how could such merrymaking be acceptable when so many other patients were dying? But each patient is someone’s family member — a brother or sister, son or daughter, father or mother.

Each patient’s life is valuable, and each life deserves to be celebrated. We must all be optimistic during this time, and small victories deserve recognition too.

Finally, I recognize the importance of having people around me on whom I can rely and who keep me grounded on difficult days.

I spent the past couple of months quarantining with my family in suburban Atlanta, and their presence and reassurance enable me to re-enter the hospital setting with hope and excitement.

Many of us have reached out to long-ago friends or family members during this time and have strengthened our bonds with those to whom we are closest.

It is incumbent upon us to ensure that these connections continue to thrive after the pandemic ends, to support and love each other and help each other persist through difficult times.

The coronavirus pandemic has been a tragedy for our community and country, and unfortunately it shows no signs of abating in the near future.

Still, I remain hopeful that some good can come from this time period and that each of us can learn something from the events of the past few months.

Each patient’s life is valuable, and each life deserves to be celebrated. We must all be optimistic during this time, and small victories deserve recognition too.

Sathvik Namburar