05/23/2020
Covid has changed my life in many ways, both professionally as an Orthopaedic Surgeon, and personally as a husband, dad and social being. While many of these changes maybe temporary, others aspects of our culture will be forever changed by the pandemic.
As we move into the third month of the shut-down I want to reflect on some of the positives, rather than the plentiful negatives.
It has never been more important, and obvious, that I am surrounded by staff who are kind, hard working and selfless - orderlies, assistants, techs, nurses, and my anesthesia, surgical and non surgical colleagues. Transforming from the premier orthopedic institution to a Covid Hospital and back has been an incredible journey. During the crisis, HSS did not lay off or furlough staff, while facing a crushing financial shortfall due to the halt of all elective procedures. But we are slowly returning to the new normal, slowly and safely increasing our procedures and office visits, starting with those who need them the most and have waited the longest.
Even more important however, was the realization that when life strips away all the things we think we care about, the conferences, lectures, presentations, dinners, vacations, parties; what is left is family. Dinner suddenly means not a rushed fly by, but actually cooking with my wife and blended family of 5 kids, every day, every week, for the past 6 weeks. And our kids have graced us with their presence at the table, having conversations, face to face and not via text. They could have acted out, complained about not seeing their friends or having to navigate online schooling, and yet they didn’t. They were incredible - they worked hard, helped where the could, and rose to the occasion.
My wife and fellow Orthopaedic surgeon Sabrina Strickland and I have probably spent more time together in these past two months than the last two years, and reassuringly, we have not grown tired of each other’s company. We have finished many projects together, building our outdoor kitchen, gardening, refinishing the living room floor, working on research projects, and many more. And after all that, we love each other more than before, if even possible.
As I am sure most of you, we can’t wait to return to a semblance of our former life, but we will cherish forever the kernels of good that we found among the tragedy.
