Just days before Christmas, Buffalonians could not even begin to imagine what would transpire in the next coming days. White out conditions, upwards of 43″ of snow, leaving many Western New York residents in an absolute fight for survival.
In the past, we all joked about the snow globe that is Buffalo, but this week residents everywhere are grappling with the bitter and harsh realities that are resurfacing just days after this once-in-a-lifetime natural disaster.
I am not surprised to see my newsfeed now filled with story after story of neighbors helping each other dig out from the mess because it’s true that there are no people on this planet quite like those that make up the city of good neighbors. And it’s clear now more than ever that the superheroes that make up our city are not standing behind podiums in suit jackets, they are those fighting for citizens everywhere in hospitals, ambulances, bulldozers, fire trucks — many are our own neighbors.
Buffalo Rising chatted with partners, Matt and Keith, who happened to both be on duty when the storm hit. They worked close to a 50-hour shift over the Christmas holiday weekend, a similar story for the majority of first responders.
It proved to be taxing in more ways than one, this is exactly the reason the couple entered into the field: to take care of their patients no matter what.
Matt and Keith went to work before the storm hit, dressed in their holiday best – dress shoes, pants and shirts. They work as LPNs at different facilities, Matt works in a hospital and Keith in a senior residence. Little did they know that the next three days they would be unable to get back home to care for their pets, who they thought they would be able to return to after a few hours, and only able to reach loved ones through quick posts on social media, before they had to get back to caring for their patients.
Matt: Keith and I are both new nurses. We graduated from nursing school within the last two years. Within a year’s time, I’ve seen some things that a lot of the people that I’m working with, who’ve been nurses for 20 years, have never seen. I really was thrown into it, but as a nurse, it’s what you sign up for, events like this. Whether it’s the pandemic and then you’ve got a natural disaster like this, this is what we signed up for.
The physical part was easier than the mental part, because we had so many things that were going on. You’ve got a holiday, but then on top of it, you have this storm. So, you’ve got two solid reasons why people are going to be not able to show up (to work). Previously, I had been working 16-hour shifts, you don’t want it to affect the patients, so we just keep going.
Keith: Residents were completely aware of what was going on. They completely understood the situation that we were in. They were like, ‘You’re still here. Oh my God, thank you for being here. Thank you. Thank you for taking care of us. We know how difficult it is.’
They knew what was going on outside, and they were just so thankful to have people there with them. As difficult as it was emotionally and mentally to be there for such an extended period of time, it was really incredible to have those residents that were just so appreciative of the work that was being done for them.
Matt, Keith and their “fur-babies” were gratefully all OK. Keith arrived home a bit before Matt on Sunday, December 25. Exhausted, mentally and physically spent. Only a few hours later, they dug out their driveway, and spent a few hours cuddling with their pets.
One thing is for certain: they will be back to work very soon.
Our city is made up of extraordinary people. A special thank you to all the emergency workers and first responders who put their lives on the line everyday to serve the greater community.
The post Married Nurses each work 50+ Hour Shift During the Blizzard appeared first on Buffalo Rising.