This Mother’s Day is unlike any other-and today we could not be more grateful for those who take care of us, such as our mothers…and our nurses.
We invite you to meet Connie and Brittany, a mother and daughter duo who are working at our local Lakeridge Health Hospitals right now.
Connie is a compassionate ICU Nurse at Oshawa Hospital and mother to Brittany, Cardiology Nurse at Oshawa Hospital.
What was it like when your daughter told you they wanted to become a nurse?
Honestly, I feel so blessed to have a daughter and to know that she wants to help others. I felt blessed the day [Brittany] told me she wanted to be a nurse just like me. Now with COVID-19, I was initially afraid for my daughter to go into the Hospital. It was a complicated emotion. Why was it okay for me to go in and not her? But then, to have your daughter look at you with courage and knowing that she wants to protect people too…it was quite the experience as a mother, and as a nurse.
How have things changed for you during COVID-19?
I’m so proud of Lakeridge Health Oshawa. I was a SARS nurse in Toronto. When COVID-19 began, there was a lot to do to be prepared to meet the challenges and the uncertainty. Today, I don’t think twice about going into our Hospital. Mostly, I think we all felt scared for families with patients in our Hospital. Being able to connect with your loved ones is a must. As a nurse, I’m all about the patient and their families. The new Virtual Connections program at Lakeridge Health was such a relief to me as a nurse.
What motivates you as a nurse?
Nursing has always been my passion. Now, I am trying to capture the inspiring moments coming out of COVID-19, such as our resilience here in the Hospital. The Hospital management teams have worked so hard to get us here. We’ve all worked to meet the challenge. Right now, what is motivating me is all of the support from our communities.
Connie’s message to our Durham Region community:
I want to share my heart-felt message with our community. Honestly, the love and support our staff and doctors have received is amazing. To see the community come together, to see the strength of our Hospitals-there are true connections there. We wear their love every day. Thank you!
