The Relentless School Nurse: Unseen Sacrifices: A Frontline Doctor’s Journey Through the Pandemic

March of 2024 will mark four years since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped our nation and the rest of the world. The first COVID-19 patient in New York was reported on March 1, 2020, and it soon became one of the largest epicenters of the disease, overwhelming the healthcare system. Dr. Cornelia Griggs, a pediatric surgery fellow, and mother of two toddlers was completing the final four months of nine years of training when she found herself on the frontline of COVID in her NYC hospital. She kept a daily journal of her first-hand account so that 100 years from now, her chronicle would not be forgotten.

Dr. Griggs wrote an Op-Ed that was published in The New York Times very early in the pandemic entitled A New York Doctor’s Coronavirus Warning: The Sky Is Falling. The Op-Ed published on March 19, 2020, was viewed by more than one million readers. Almost four years to the day since that perspective piece was released, Dr. Griggs’s book, The Sky Was Falling, will be published by Simon & Schuster on March 12, 2024. The book is a compilation of her lived experience based on the daily journal entries she wrote to help her process the enormity of the crisis in real time.

Dr. Cornelia Griggs’s account of the pandemic is a poignant example of the immense sacrifices and challenges faced by frontline medical workers, particularly women and mothers. Her story sheds light on the personal and professional struggles endured by healthcare professionals during this unprecedented time.

 

The decision to send her children away to family to protect them from potential infection reflects the agonizing choices many healthcare workers had to make to safeguard their families while fulfilling their duties. Dr. Griggs’s experience also highlights the emotional toll of isolation, fear of infecting loved ones, and the pressure of caring for patients amidst a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the loss of colleagues.

 

The broader impact of the pandemic on the healthcare system, including staffing shortages, loss of experienced personnel, and the strain on resources, is a critical issue that Dr. Griggs can speak to. Her firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by medical professionals, such as overworked and underpaid nurses, the consequences of postponing elective surgeries and preventative care, and the closure of pediatric wards due to financial constraints, provides valuable insight into the systemic effects of the crisis.

 

Despite the despair and hardships, Dr. Griggs’s story also exemplifies moments of compassion, resilience, and hope within the healthcare community. The support she received from colleagues, patients, and individuals across the country, as well as acts of kindness and solidarity, served as sources of encouragement during her most difficult moments.

 

Dr. Griggs’s experiences underscore the need for continued recognition, support, and resources for frontline medical workers, as well as a deeper understanding of the far-reaching impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems and those who dedicate their lives to saving others. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and dedication exhibited by healthcare professionals in the face of extraordinary challenges.

 

I am proud to call Dr. Cornelia Griggs my friend and partner in gun violence prevention research. She leads our team at the Mass General Hospital Gun Violence Prevention Center, which has created curriculum and simulation training for school nurses to hold conversations about safe firearm storage and Extreme Risk Protection Orders. While her soon-to-be-released book is not specifically about gun violence prevention, the lessons learned certainly apply. One of the concluding sentences of her powerful NYT Op-Ed (shown below) speaks directly to why I continue to do this work, “we need public-spirited action.”

 

Like everyone, I have moments where imagining the worst possible Covid-19 scenario steals my breath. But cowering in the dark places of our minds doesn’t help. Rather than private panic, we need public-spirited action. – Dr. Corneilia Griggs 

You can pre-order Dr. Griggs’s book through any of the following links:

Simon & Schuster
Amazon
Bookshop.org

 

Readers of this blog can also help spread the word by contacting your local libraries and asking them to add The Sky Was Falling to their collection! Cornelia, I am proud to know you and work with you.  I honor the courage and tenacity it took to share your private reflections during the most vulnerable time in most of our lives. You are and have always been a true partner with nurses and I am cheering you on to reach the top of The New York Times Bestsellers List!