>> i should be okay now? >> reporter: you think? >> yeah. >> reporter: the sickness, death and seemingly endless suffering taking its toll on those who come to work every day to save lives at lansing's sparrow health. >> the other day i had my first panic attack, and i didn't know what it was. like i'm a nurse. i should know these things. and i drove to work and was just -- i couldn't get out of the car. what is going on. and it was a full-on -- after i sat there for a minute, oh, my gosh, i'm having a panic attack. i did not want to come to work. >> reporter: stress, tension, anxiety on the face and in the lives of every health care worker here. >> i've gone home a few days and had days where i just cry. and as a mom, it's really hard, because my kids then are challenged to see that. so i have to put on a brave front for them too. but it's awful. >> reporter: though most staff here are vaccinated, sparrow has no vaccine mandate for its workers and is still suffering a shortage of staff, worn thin by