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Today’s must-watch video: “I didn’t expect to see families wiped out”

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* My brother Devin and my niece Isabel were pool reporters for an event featuring frontline health care workers receiving vaccinations. Click here to see their photos and videos. But make sure to watch this video of Glenda Mills, a PCU Nurse at Southern Illinois Healthcare…

* Transcript…

I’ve been a nurse for over two years now at Carbondale. And I’ve worked the COVID unit exclusively for the last few months. And it has been a, a different situation.

I never expected to work in a pandemic. And I have honestly seen things that I really thought was only in the movies. I didn’t expect to see families wiped out. I didn’t expect to stand by people while they died, but that’s what we’ve been going through there.

This is a light at the end of the tunnel, and hopefully we can crawl out of this. We’ve lost over 300,000 people so far to this. And it’s really difficult for us health care workers when we see people who don’t believe this, who think it’s a fake or making it up, but I’ve watched it every night.

Get the shot. Wear your mask. Show some compassion for the other people around us.

So for us, this is a relief. This is the light at the end of the tunnel. And I hope to God we can get out of this without losing any more people.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:11 pm

Comments

I will gladly take the vaccine when it’s my turn to do so.

Comment by Anonamoose Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:19 pm
Hope is a powerful thing, but we’re months away from the end of the tunnel and we will see many more deaths.

For the last 9 months physicians and nurses have been bagging us collectively change our behaviors, but SIH serves communities where as of today one is still able to receive indoor service of food and drink and bars stay open to their regular hours.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:21 pm
So powerful. So real. Can someone share with Darren Bailey and his peeps?

Comment by Shytown Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:25 pm
My aunt passed from Covid this morning.

Comment by Al Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:30 pm
Really good piece. Right sources. Authentic to the core.

(And It’s Miller time.)

Comment by walker Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:33 pm
If you don’t feel humble to this pandemic and grateful to the front line workers with these tragic experiences, you truly will never be able to grasp the pain all are feeling that are effected in the treatment of the patients.

I have family, not unlike millions, I’m not special or unique to this, who are treating patients. Cousins. One a doctor, another a nurse.

They are exhausted too. Mentally, it takes a toll. The worries are real, the faces I know I see in zoom calls tell more than words.

This video speaks to me… by what I see in my family.

Make the work for these heroes easier; wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance… don’t congregate for these holidays, think of the parties next year… zoom calls, face time, and get your vaccine when you are able.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:39 pm
The vaccine is experimental. The long-term health effects are unkown. Pass. I will withdraw from society, and won’t miss a beat or a mode.

Comment by 40,000 ft Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:40 pm
Anyway to make sure that Bailey and DeVore see this?

What a dumb question. I should know better.

Comment by don the legend Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:46 pm
It’s sad hearing what these health care workers are going through to help save others. These wonderful people need our prayers. I’m thankful my wife and daughter are in the medical field and will be getting their vaccine in the coming weeks. I’ll wait until my turn and I hope my other family members and friends get out and get theirs.

Comment by Club J Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:51 pm
Paging Darren Bailey and Tom Devore. Go talk to this lady and then do your selfies smiling as if everything is ok.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:55 pm
==The vaccine is experimental. The long-term health effects are unkown. Pass. I will withdraw from society, and won’t miss a beat or a mode.==

See ya. Don’t let the door hit ya.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:55 pm
===I will withdraw from society===

Start by getting off this blog and staying off of it. Bye.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 2:59 pm
My sympathies to Al and also to former paratrooper (yesterday’s post). I don’t know what else to do to get people to believe what is right in front of them. The front line health care workers are the ones in the know. What is it that they gain by asking you to follow the rules? Fewer patients, less hours, less misery and sadness. If people don’t understand that and prefer to believe some random internet site or tweet, then they might be interested in buying the bridge someone has to sell.

Comment by thoughts matter Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 3:02 pm
=The vaccine is experimental.=
No, it isn’t. It was developed using a newer process, but it isn’t “experimental”.

=The long-term health effects are unkown.=

You mean they cannot look into the future? Wow, I thought everyone could./s

Get the vaccine when it is your turn. Be patient. I will wait even though I am high risk as I always mask, keep my distance, and basically live like a hermit aside from going to work.

@Al, so sorry for your loss.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 3:20 pm
I believe. I will gladly get the shot when available. I pray that everyone will.

Comment by Sal Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 3:21 pm
- Al -

My sincere condolences.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 3:21 pm
Madison County’s new GOP State’s Attorney Tom Haine (former State Senator Bill Haine’s son) just issued a press release stating that the Governor’s EO’s aren’t enforceable. More lack of compassion from our local Trumpers.

Comment by Highland IL Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 3:22 pm
“Around 50 COVID vaccines were delivered to Warner Hospital and Health Services in Clinton on Wednesday.

The DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department received those and immediately sent those to Clinton’s hospital. Executive Director of the Health Department Dave Remmert indicates DeWitt County was designated as one of the 50 counties with the highest death rates in Illinois.”

This death rate designation is not something your county wants to have, and it didn’t need to happen. However, I’m sure Bailey and Devore and their ilk think it’s all OK so we can get to “herd immunity”.

Masking is much better, finally, in DeWitt County. But still there are the “defiant ones”, usually younger (20-30s) that intentionally flaunt the mask in public spaces such as grocery stores. Just today, the obituary for the former Farm Bureau manager was posted. He served DeWitt County for 35 years. He died of COVID-19, and his family included that in the obituary. He was 74 and had been enjoying his retirement.

https://dewittdailynews.com/local-news/546535

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 3:26 pm
Can the state cut off these local governments that just don’t do their jobs? Not allow them sales in ptax?

Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 3:27 pm
Since the electorate takes no responsibility for containment of COVID-19 it must be (by their logic} the fault of Pritzker.

Some people need the strong hand of an authoritarian to be convinced to comply with doctors orders.

Reuters has a story about how Wuhan hasn’t reported a new locally transmitted case of the disease since May 10, after undergoing one of the strictest lockdowns worldwide.

https://widerimage.reuters.com/story/one-night-in-wuhan-covid-19s-original-epicentre-re-learns-how-to-party?utm_campaign=web-app-launch&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=rcom&utm_content=ros

I hope I haven’t crossed any line resulting in moderation. People have to face the consequences of their actions.

Comment by Glenn Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 3:52 pm
I’m so sorry, Al.

Comment by Dub Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 3:56 pm
To the post:

Enough of just calling the front line workers heroes.

They deserve apologies from all the indifferent people who have made their lives so unnecessarily unbearable for all these months.

Comment by Glenn Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 3:58 pm
“I will withdraw from society, and won’t miss a beat or a mode.”

Cool beans. I take that to mean you won’t be driving, since roads are a publicly funded benefit of our society. Or if you are robbed or assaulted I trust you won’t call on the police to assist you.

Comment by Independent Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:03 pm
Al,

I’m so sorry for the loss to you and your family.

Comment by The Dude Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:04 pm
=== Whole families wiped out, I call nonsense===

You live in a hole?

Hit the Google key…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:09 pm
my niece is a Clinical Pharmacist at a major university hospital. She obviously does not have as much contact with those patients in the most serious stages of this virus. But she is involved in their care and sees a lot. For her a major tragedy is the family separation that is mandated. And that could all have been prevented.

Al, my deepest sympathy to you and your family.

Comment by ilini Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:36 pm
Al, I am so sorry for you loss. My condolences to you and your family.

Comment by JoanP Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:44 pm
Condolences to Al and all who lost someone to this virus.

A mask and social distancing are lighter burdens than a feather, when it comes to protecting one another. Imagine how burdensome a breathing tube is.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:59 pm