HUGS FOR HEROES

When the COVID-19 pandemic first overtook our lives, I felt helpless. I didn’t what to say or how to help. I’m not a nurse or a doctor or a scientist. I don’t have a medical degree or any clue about microbiology. I make scarves…and what I do have are knit wraps. Not just any wraps, these are Marconi HUG wraps and they have a Morse Code dot and dash design that spells “HUG”. No one needs a hug right now more than our front lines workers. So we reached out on our social media channels asking people to nominate healthcare workers and tell us how they were going above and beyond. In, return we sent them HUG wraps. It’s not a vaccine but sometimes a little gesture like a “thank you” and hug can make a big difference. 

OUR HEROES AND THEIR STORIES 

We heard some amazing stories about the sacrifices and challenges these mothers, sisters, and best friends were going through during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are a few of the healthcare heroes we spotlighted, but there are many more and as we all know, the fight continues. We are so thankful heroes who have put themselves and their families at risk to protect our communities. Thank you all! 

MIRA 

Mira is on the front lines of the pandemic in California sometimes working without the proper PPE to protect herself. Mira was nominated by her friend Jaye. 

ALYSSA 

Alyssa is a selfless RN at Mass General and is always ready to help out her fellow nurses and tend to patient needs. Alyssa was nominated by her co-worker Maggie. 

ASHTON 

Ashton is an ER nurse at Riverside Hospital in Kankakee, IL where she stepped up to the line with continued compassion and kindness all while expecting a baby. Ashton worked right up until her due date and now has a beautiful healthy baby boy who is 4 months old. Ashton was nominated by her mom, Bonnie. 

SARAH 

Sarah Donlan is the medical director of Evanston Hospital Emergency Department in Illinois and is a mother of three. Sarah was nominated by her co-worker Michael. 

KATEY 

Katey is an ER Nurse and 20 year veteran at Rhode Island Hospital. She was nominated for a “HUG” by her co-worker not only for her compassion and care towards patients but also towards the other nurses and staff. 

MARIE 

Marie is an ICU nurse at Illinois Masonic Hospital. She’s a single mother that sent her children away to live with their father, so she wouldn’t expose them to the COVID-19 virus while Marie continued to treat patients at the hospital. Unfortunately, Marie did contract the virus but fully recovered. She is pictured here after her recovery and a few days before returning back to the front lines. Marie was nominated by her co-worker Mike.