Thank you, health-care workers

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/04/2020 (2033 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

We all know how important our health-care providers are as we battle against the coronavirus.

So we asked our readers to share their appreciation.

Thank you doesn’t seem enough for all of the health-care workers, firefighters, paramedics, mail persons and all of the people working to allow us to continue getting supplies. I feel so uncomfortable after getting groceries, like I need to shower and wash my clothes, so I can’t imagine how working all day must make you feel. I hope that once this is over, people never forget how important you are. Please stay safe and healthy, and a huge thank you from my family.

— Wendy Hedley

Thank you. These words are not enough to express my sincere appreciation to all those who work to provide care, comfort and hope to those in our hospitals and personal-care homes, and to those who respond to 911 calls for help. I also think of those people working behind the scenes in public health to stay on top of the rapidly evolving pandemic and to do the testing and the contact tracing necessary to try and manage this monster. Thank you again.

—Heather McLaren

Thanks to all of you for your courage, dedication, compassion and humanity. The job you do is almost impossible to do and, I, for one am deeply grateful!

— Anonymous

Along with the health-care workers, I would like to applaud the workers at Canada Post who bring us our mail, even if they do bring us bills, and also to the Winnipeg Free Press carriers who bring us our daily printed newspapers.

— Ron Rentz

We applaud your dedication to the well-being of Manitobans!

— Lori and Phil Klassen

A heartfelt thank you to all the dedicated health-care workers who are working tirelessly to keep us safe.

— Darlene Gerrior

It is an early April Manitoba morning in the year 2020
Another day dawns, 
In this, our altered, upside down world 
The sun, in its full glory 
Paints the sky in awesome colour 
Unfettered by the invisible chains 
Holding us hostage in forced isolation 
And yet… 
Geese fly in anticipation of a spring 
Snow comes and disappears as temperatures warm 
Clouds still float idly by 
Soon leaves will green and tulips bloom 
Mother Nature, it appears, is undaunted 
By this deadly, invisible force 
Marching across the globe 
From one end to the other 
Showing little mercy or discretion 
Preying on those most vulnerable 
Bringing us all down to our knees, 
Changing… perhaps forever 
All that we know and love 
And yet… 
Into this chaos, they come,
The front-line workers of essential services 
Those everyday heroes from all walks of life 
Dedicated and determined 
Stepping up and staring down this invisible enemy 
Called COVID-19 
Sacrificing much, to do what must be done. 
Protecting the vulnerable 
Often at considerable personal risk 
Keeping us all as safe as possible 
And so… 
To all of these brave souls I say, “Thank you” 
Your courage and dedication gives me hope 
Your caring and compassion gives me comfort 
Your desire to make it better makes me proud to be from Manitoba 
So that all I must do is social distancing, wash my hands and stay home 
I pray with all my heart, that you and yours will all be safe as well. 

— A poem written by Janet Bock, one grateful senior from Winnipeg, on Good Friday 

We wish to thank Dr. Roussin and Lanette Siragusa for their dedication and expertise as they deliver the daily COVID-19 updates. We realize this is a huge commitment to the people of Manitoba. Also, we wish to commend and offer our support and thanks to all health-care workers who are caring for very sick patients in such difficult times. Thank you to them. We are truly grateful.

—Marlene Maykut

A piece of verse to the front line:

How do we thank those who’re most vital of all? The ones on whom when we’re sick we do call? This terrible virus, a pain in the butt, has caused us to re-think ourselves and our rut. There’s lots of new rules that we must obey. Please keep your distance and home you must stay, say Ms. Siragusa, Dr. Roussin and Tam. So let’s try our best, I know that I am. Don’t go on a rant, don’t say that you can’t; let’s all get together and set up a chant. Let’s all do our best, let’s mindfully work, we can beat this virus if none of us shirk. For those who work behind scenes everyday, we’re with you in hopes that it won’t stay this way. We know there’s no glory, some days it is rough; we’re thankful to have you prepared to be tough! We’ll hear those who help us when things seem most broken; we’ll do what we must and heed those who have spoken. ‘Tis the best way to turn that big curve into planks, and give those who help us our most grateful thanks!

— Margaret Mills

I’ve been on kidney dialysis for five years. I receive kidney dialysis treatments three times a week at Sherbrook Dialysis Unit. The dialysis nurses provide professional and caring service. They are calm, patient and friendly to me. I appreciate all my nurses. They are my angels during my four-hour dialysis treatment. I wish them safety on their jobs and good health.

— Roman Kohoot, a very grateful patient