Grace Church in New York

Restoring All People Within Our Reach To Unity With God And Each Other Through Jesus Christ

Grace Church

in New York

Restoring All People Within Our Reach To Unity With God And Each Other Through Jesus Christ

Rachel Salvato Gordon

Grace Parish Showcase

Pregnant While Working the Frontlines During COVID-19

I found out I was pregnant on January 26, 2020.

On January 27th, I had my first encounter with a patient who we suspected had COVID-19.

I always knew being an Emergency Room nurse had its risks, but never did I imagine I would experience working a pandemic while pregnant with my first baby.

As COVID-19 ravaged our patients and staff we simply did the best we could.

In a matter of days, we made adjustments to wear N95 respirators, face shields and protective gowns for 12+ hours a day.

We quickly learned how to care for patients on ventilators; our Emergency Room went from having 0 patients on ventilators to over 30 patients on ventilators.

We cried on each other’s shoulders and rushed to each other’s sides when we were at our breaking points.

Being pregnant, I was terrified.

I cried both ways to work.

My management and co-nurses knew that COVID-19 posed a serious risk to my baby.

They kept me sheltered, protected me to the best of their ability, I even moved floors to a “non COVID” PACU/ICU.

But nothing at the hospital was “non COVID” in March and April.

As we finally start to gain control over the virus, there is a new sense of normal at the hospital.

I look at my co-nurses in a different way now.

We all have a deeper respect and understanding for one another.

On September 22, 2020, my baby girl was born; healthy.

I will never forget working the frontlines during the height of the pandemic.

I can never forget the sacrifices and prayers that I felt by people who I now consider family, and for that, I wouldn’t change a thing.