SAMUEL LEWANDOWSKI
Special to The Leader
In her 33 years working as a nurse, Nancy Lewandowski — my mother — said that COVID-19 is the scariest thing she’s ever seen.
Lewandowski’s career began at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, where she worked as a graduate nurse. After receiving her license and passing her boards, she said she stayed there and worked in a medical/surgical ward.
“I learned a lot,” said Lewandowski. “That was where I really got a really good foundation.”
While working at Millard Suburban, Lewandowski took on another full-time job at Hospice Buffalo.
Around that time, the HIV/AIDS pandemic began.
“In those early days at Hospice we saw HIV patients, a lot of pneumonias, and while working in the hospital I saw some meningitis patients, a variety of different viruses,” said Lewandowski. “And now I’m starting to see a little bit of COVID-19 where I’m currently working.
“This is the scariest one that I have ever seen.”
Lewandowski said that there are many factors contributing to the fear surrounding COVID-19.
“It presents differently in different people,” said Lewandowski. “The vast majority, I would say, are those who are frail and elderly with comorbidities, but young people are getting it. They’re showing issues with clotting, some with cardiac implications. It’s scary because it’s very new and it’s very unknown and it’s very contagious.”
Lewandowski also said that lack of proper supplies have also increased concerns about COVID-19.
“Other conditions, I always felt I could protect myself from,” said Lewandowski. “I never really worried, I always had the right amount of personal protective equipment. We always had what we needed. From case to case we changed our PPE. Now it’s scary because there is a definite issue with availability.”
Lewandowski said her work has been telling staff to reuse their N95 masks and giving tips for how to preserve them.
“With our N95 masks, unless it gets visibly soiled or damaged or it’s really crumpled, we’re supposed to remove it carefully, clean the outside of it off, use a cloth mask over it to extend the life of the N95 and then the cloth mask we can launder,” Lewandowski said. “We get [a specific] amount of paper masks, we’ve never had to ration stuff like that before. Never in my 33 years as a nurse have I been told to reuse any PPE — ever.”
Lewandowski said she was disappointed with the initial response from her work, and that their lack of information instilled much fear and anxiety in her and her staff, even causing some to quit.
Yet today, Lewandowski said her manager, director and CEO are giving routine virtual town halls. She believes that, given the circumstances, they are doing the best they can.
Lewandowksi also believes our state government has tried their best to manage the virus, and said that she appreciates the daily supply of information.
“It’s accurate, informative and I think it helps us as citizens and healthcare workers that want to protect our families,” said Lewandowski. “They give you useful information on how to protect yourself and your family and long term objectives … as far as the economy and trying to get back to some semblance of normalcy.”
While Lewandowski believes her work and state government have been doing the best they can to manage the pandemic, she remains critical of the federal response.
“It has been an abject failure,” said Lewandowski. “I am supremely disappointed in the disjointed messaging and the confusion. They profess to be supplying everything that is needed by the states and that’s clearly not true. You speak to people in working situations that are more complex than mine and they don’t have what they need. It’s just a travesty.”
Lewandowski said that a doctor she occasionally crosses paths with asked if she could supply testing for her patients.
“I mean, that’s a doctor’s office,” said Lewandowski. “If you can’t get it, I can’t get it!”
Lewandowski said that she does believe there are some good actors involved in the federal response who are trying to do the right thing, but does not appreciate the constant mixed messaging.
“The appalling lack of competence does not afford you the type of confidence you need to move forward through something like this. You need leadership. We have it in New York State, and here in Erie County, I feel good about that.”
For credible information, Lewandowski advises listening to doctors, scientists and the CDC director.
She also said that if you’re in a position where you can stay home, stay home.
“Wash your hands, don’t touch your face,” said Lewandowski. “If you bring in packaging and things like that, make sure you clean it off as best you can, throw out outer containers, disinfect your surfaces and your doorknobs, things you frequently use.
“Eat well, try to sleep, manage your stress and take your vitamins… I think we’ll get through this!”
Samuel Lewandowski is a senior journalism and political science major.