Finding Courage Through Covid-19 by Samantha Cuomo

**Note from the editor: While this beautiful submission from Samantha was originally written in June, we feel it is still timely and relevant to share now. A lovely little reminder that no matter where in the world we are, we’re all in this together.

It is 6 months into the year 2020 and 5 months into Covid-19. With each passing day, I hardly recognize the life we are living. The world wars may be long gone but, in many similarities, we are fighting a new war that has left no country unscathed. We are fighting a common enemy to which no one has been able to find reprieve in this ongoing pandemic. Our new daily routines include masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing.

As the early days of summer have arrived, life feels a little less glum. The open beaches, restaurants, and shops welcoming customers back has given us a sense of normalcy after the long months of isolation. As we look toward the warmer weather, it gives a faint sense of hope that Covid will one day leave with the changing tide, back to depths from which it came and we will once again feel the cool summer breeze and smell of fresh air on our unobscured faces.

For now, that seems a lingering dream. The rise in cases increases daily, there is no getting away from it; it is constantly in our faces being shouted from our TVs and our phones. The only relief I can find from it all is falling asleep for those sacred 8 hours. Working in the medical field since the beginning has given me an insight into the effects of how the virus has impacted the healthcare system and our communities. In the early days of Covid, my co-workers and I made light of the situation, even the doctors were not concerned, however as the days and weeks approached, the virus showed us its swiftness and aggression that none of us were prepared for. We soon began to feel the weight of the situation; now months into the pandemic we are fitted with fatigue, morale is low and there seems to be no relief in sight. In spite of this, I do feel fortunate enough to work with nurses and doctors I have come to call family. We have always been a strong team, which has united us even more as we face the continuous changes and challenges of the patient workflow. I see us as soldiers, nightingales, and sisters fighting the unpredictable storm that has become our new lifestyle. We make each other laugh, we lift each other up when one of us is low, we enjoy our quality time during our lunch hour that is our only time of peace during our long day. In our position, we are pushed to our physical and mental limits. But no matter the circumstances, these girls give me hope that we can endure anything as long we do it together.

For now, maybe that is all we need; the reminder that we are not alone, and we are all in this together. Covid has forced us to stay apart but I think it has also made us stronger in our perseverance to connect. As human beings and social creatures, this virus has tested our patience and lifestyles to our limits. We have felt the impact of the isolation and our daily lifestyles being turned upside down. In some instances, few will not be able to recover. With all our human ingenuity, two things always remain true: our hope for the future and love for another. With these two things hand in hand, as a country, we can face anything. Tomorrow is a new day- courage!

Hi! I am Samantha but friends and family call me Sammy!  I am a Medical Assistant based in Southern California. Some things that bring me joy are reading, photography, and hanging out at coffee shops. Writing started as an outlet for me to express my daily life and that grew into a passion to dive deeper into my creative spirit. I love writing poems, stories, and my journey with mental health. I hope to bring more awareness to others and to offer encouragement for people to seek their inner truths and embrace self-empowerment. Follow Samantha.