Recently, while walking in the hospital hallway without a facemask, I couldn’t help but remember the dreaded day three years ago when the first COVID-19 patients were admitted.

By that time, the “virus on steroids” was well known and had already wreaked havoc in many countries, as well as several states here in the U.S. Horror stories from the worst hit areas were spreading very fast, and the resulting terror was simply unavoidable. We knew that we would be seeing our first patients here very soon. The inevitable stirred many unexpected emotions.

I still vividly remember my first encounter with a COVID patient. Before entering the isolation room, I admit I had some fear of the unknown. It was impossible to simply ignore what we had heard about the virus and its devastating effects. 

At the time, the gentleman was not very sick. He was receiving supplemental oxygen but was still able to talk. I learned that his wife had also been admitted and was receiving care in a neighboring room. 

I tried to provide some reassurance and wished for their recovery so that they could soon talk to each other again. But within days, his condition rapidly deteriorated and he passed away.

It was very painful to witness this couple who had promised each other “until death do us part” be unable to be together during his final days. Little did I know that it was only the beginning. 

This pandemic with a highly contagious virus had only started to set the world on fire. We were about to witness not only countless, heart-wrenching deaths but also painful separations with no opportunity for final goodbyes. Patients would cry tears of trepidation, wondering if they would be able to leave the hospital to see their dear ones again. Outside the hospital, others would offer prayers of hope for a miracle. As I said, it was just the beginning of a very long, painful road ahead.

There was every kind of extreme pain endured during the height of the pandemic, but to me, what hurt the most was people being separated from their loved ones when they needed them the most.

We all went through the hell and suffered in different ways at different times. We all have countless stories. The stories begin to fade and overlap as the days pass and time marches on. 

Yet, there are many lessons. We learned how to fight a very unpredictable and extremely dangerous situation in a highly constrained environment. We were able to function as a very effective team where each team member is crucial and appreciated. We became better able to help and comfort each other during adversity. We realized that life can be very short and end abruptly; thus, we need to value and appreciate what we have. 

The hardships of the pandemic feel like a bad dream now. Walking these same hospital hallways now, it feels surreal to remember those first patients and many more thereafter.

During one of our meetings during the pandemic, I recall Dr. Jeremy Blanchard, North Mississippi Health Services chief medical officer, asking everyone present for a descriptive. I chose “resilience,” and I am still amazed by the resilience shown by this health system during these tough years. For me that’s the biggest realization—the fact that we can get through anything if we work together with the final victory in sight.

With resilience, we can get through anything if we work together with the final victory in sight.