by Michael Del Trecco, VAHHS CEO One of my favorite things about the holiday season is having all the family together at once. This year, I’m looking forward to having both of my kids at home for the first time in four months. Both are returning from college—one a freshman, the other a junior. I have to say I may not have predicted how very happy the prospect of simply spending time all together would make me, but it’s absolutely the best holiday gift.
We’re also lucky this year in that my wife, Donna, a hospital nurse, is free—not on call until New Year’s. But it wasn’t always that way. There have been many years when she has not been at our holiday table, On Christmas Eve one year, for example, she got a call from the hospital and jumped up, stating, “Gotta’ go.” But this year, I know some of her colleagues will be in that same position, as Donna gets her turn staying home.
That’s the way it is for health care workers. While medical staff and patients themselves make every attempt to minimize the number of beds that remain full over the heart of the holidays, emergencies and serious illness don’t take a break for festivities. So, all staff—whether they be surgeons or food service workers or environmental service workers—have to be there to care for us.
Despite the fact that it’s been a tough year for Vermont health care workers, they continue to step up and serve us all. We hope you’ll take a moment during your holiday season to keep them in your thoughts. And, if you have a selfless health care worker in your neighborhood or family, take a minute to offer your appreciation. It means a lot to be seen and supported and I know it will be an added boost in these difficult times.
We wanted to be sure to thank them, too, so we created the PSA below to show some love. We hope you’ll see it on your local TV station or whatever channel provides you with content. Feel free to share to help spread the word that we really are so grateful for their compassion and care.
Happy holidays from all of us at VAHHS.