This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
“Men’s and nations’ finest hour consist of those moments when extraordinary challenge is met by extraordinary response.” — Neal A. Maxwell
As the days and nights have blended together over the past two weeks during the growing coronavirus threat, there’s one thought that continues to rise in my mind.
It’s this: How fortunate; how very fortunate we are to have the dedication of our teammates during this uncertain time.
We don’t yet know how far, how fast, and how hard coronavirus will hit our nation or our state, but each of us does know, right now, that there are people we can count on when our backs are against the wall. And those people have others they count on. And so on.
In turn, your patients — those who are sick or injured — count on you, because their backs are against the wall. In the coming weeks and months, your communities will need to count on you as well.
This is where we are today, at a moment when each of us, individually, will be tested.
For all of us, are we following the science and doing our duty on social distancing and home isolation? For our political leaders, are they taking the steps necessary to protect not only the public, but also our vital health care workforce? For our neighbors, are we checking in to see if now-homebound seniors need groceries? Are we avoiding hoarding food and supplies so all can get the things they need?
These days, information is flying at a breakneck pace; policies are changing by the day; and events on the ground are shifting by the hour.
Through all of this, you, the individual threads that make up California’s health care tapestry, have held firm in your commitment to protect and care for people.
That’s why I’d like to pause for a moment to thank all of you personally, because I know that you have each others’ backs — from sharing scarce personal protective equipment to creating more space for patients.
And when we all stick together, collectively, we have the backs of the millions of Californians who are counting on us every day. That’s why we do what we do.
To add one thought to Mr. Maxwell’s quote on extraordinary challenge being met by extraordinary response: that response is only possible when extraordinary people are doing it.
Thank you for all the extraordinary work you do to make sure someone has the back of all Californians.
– Carmela
