Mentally exhausted but hopeful due to the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, Yanktonâs front-line medical workers talk about the fight that, for at least one of Yanktonâs Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses, quickly became personal.
Since the spring, the ICU at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital (ASHH) in Yankton has basically become the COVID unit, Carrie Heine â a nurse for 41 years, of which 30 have been spent in the ASHH ICU â told the Press & Dakotan.
âI donât think the community realized that we were already treating COVID patients back in April,â she said. âThat was when we started hearing the stories about health-care workers dying. It became very real.â
Avera staff is working to make sure that the spirit of Christmas reaches everyone this year â especially those who have been under quarantine since March.
This yearâs Avera Holiday of Caring event aims to provide a gift box for every resident at Yanktonâs Sister James Care Center. Individuals can sponsor boxes through donations or pick up a gift tag with instructions at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital entrance vestibule and make their own. Boxes may be mailed or dropped off, but must be received by Dec. 15.
As a precaution against spreading COVID-19, the boxes will be quarantined for 10 days before being distributed to residents.