萝莉社

The next part of our employee inspiration series continues with sharing additional creative submissions. Several 萝莉社 employees wrote and shared poems about how they鈥檙e feeling during the pandemic as part of the launched by the Center for Healthy Minds and Practice and 萝莉社 Employee Wellness.

Enjoy reading these reflections from our employees, as we all continue to power through the pandemic.

While I Was Counting the Beans

Traci Kyle, a fixed asset coordinator in the Accounting department, authored this poem in honor of all medical personnel providing direct care for patients during the pandemic. 鈥�

While I was counting the beans
You witnessed COVID鈥檚 devastation never shrinking from the scene
While I was editing spreadsheets
You provided compassionate, life-sustaining care, and
often suffering defeats
While I was preparing for audit
You faced each uncertain day with courageous fortitude
without one solitary regret
While I was working from home
You ended innumerable days with the exhausting weight
of sorrow and cried alone
While I was measuring expenses
You spent hours away from your families to administer
to the stricken and defenseless
While I was logging off each day
You moved my grateful heart to wish you continued
blessings and strength to come your way

鈥� Traci Kyle

7th Heaven

This poem was written by Marilyn Behm, a registered nurse in the Medical Intensive Care Unit, or MICU. The MICU has a designated COVID-19 unit, which Marilyn is symbolizing in this poem. 鈥�

MICU, a place we call COVID land.
COVID land has no land
It鈥檚 located in 7th heaven
It鈥檚 a place where dreams end and nightmares begin.
It鈥檚 also a place where miracles happen
It鈥檚 where you find angels with invisible wings.
Day and night they tarry performing miracles along the way.
Rejoicing with every win, saddened with every loss.
They had become the surrogate to the family their patients couldn鈥檛 see.

Please take good care of my daughter鈥�
I know my wife is in good hands鈥�
I thank you for taking good care of my husband鈥�
God bless you all for all you do鈥�
You are all in my prayers鈥�

These are the sweet words they hear every day.
Words that were meant to encourage and give strength surprisingly hurts to hear.

For these angels knows their fears
The faith, the trust and the love we hear over the phone

The unspoken message of longing for their loved ones

The agony in a husband鈥檚 voice鈥� if only he can touch his wife

A mother鈥檚 love felt through her prayers and positive words

A daughter鈥檚 excitement when she was able to pray over the phone to her unstable mother

A father鈥檚 face started to move as his daughter鈥檚 voice resonates over the phone

Seeing their loved ones in a rollercoaster of instability

Seeing what they couldn鈥檛 see

The thought of permanent damage after recovery

Holding back the words, 鈥淗oney, your beloved may not come home鈥�

Fighting back fears for ourselves and loved ones exposed, we were winning鈥�

Until a colleague and a friend fell victim too.

The angels cried inside.

Humans鈥� With all the strengths and weaknesses,
With all the pain and glory,
Yes we are humans
We are angels with invisible wings.
Performing the impossible is what we do well

In 7th heaven, that鈥檚 where we dwell.

鈥� Marilyn Behm

Seasons 鈥� My Journey through Poetry

Written by Mary Thomas, an office manager at 萝莉社 Family Medicine and Pediatrics 鈥� Baymeadows 鈥�

I鈥檝e had moments of joy and moments of despair.
But through all my moments, my God was there.
I鈥檝e shed tears of sadness for the people and things we lost,
Realizing in every choice we make there will be cost.
There were tears of joy for the moments of conquest.
To encourage myself and others I repeated, 鈥楲et鈥檚 do our best!鈥�
There鈥檝e been sleepless nights, frustration, moments of perplexity when things were unclear.
Each day brought an attitude of gratitude for the things we hold dear.
In the mist of storm COVID, radical protest, feeling blindsided and deceived,
waiting on the next wave to come, I heard the world saying,
鈥淛ust let me breathe鈥�
With each new day, there came a glimmer of renewed hope,
New life means new beginnings and new strength to cope.
The rainbow over the horizon, reminds us that change is on the way,
Rather it comes in a second, a moment, an hour, or another long hard day.
We hold on to the calling to offer care and compassion during a time such as this
Quoting, 鈥淲E ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER,鈥� because it鈥檚 truly the kindness that we miss.
So, whether we agree or disagree, no matter who鈥檚 right or wrong.
As long as we stand together 鈥� WE STAND TOGETHER STRONG!

鈥� Mary Thomas

Our series will continue over the next few weeks, as we will share short stories from employees. Find more inspiring posts and updates about our physicians, providers, nurses and staff by following our 萝莉社 Jacksonville , and pages.