Early in March of 2020 the Coronavirus started spreading across our country. It quickly spread, infecting many in New York City, which became the East Coast’s epicenter. There was not enough Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) or ventilators. Tragically, this was not unique to our country, but a world-wide crisis. Many hospitals resembled a mash unit in a war zone. In some hospitals, PPE was only issued once a day. Yes, they were forced to wear the same PPE as they treated one patient after another. Doctors and nurses commonly worked 18 hour shifts. Some slept in the hospital where they worked, fearing that going home they would transmit the virus to their family members. Dr. Lorna M. Breen became infected while working as an emergency room director in NYC. After 10 days in quarantine she returned to work. She described tragic scenes of devastation wrought by the disease, recalling how some patients died before they could even be carried out of ambulances. On April 26th, she took her life, the unrelenting crisis becoming more than she could bear. This sculpture is dedicated to her struggle and the struggle of so many health care workers still on the front lines throughout our nation. May she rest in peace.
Artist Ron Campbell
Cedar Springs MI
