This archive report was first published on 22 May 2020.
‘Lord Have Mercy’: Inside One of New York’s Deadliest ZIP Codes ¶
Published on May 22, 2020
St. John's Hospital in Queens, New York, has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, with its ZIP code being one of the hardest hit in the city. Doctors and nurses at the hospital have shared their experiences of treating patients, describing the emotional toll of the crisis.
Dr. Lee, the director of the Emergency Department, recalled the first night he worked during the pandemic, when 10 people died in front of him. 'It was just — yeah, that was a lot,' he said.
Another doctor described the feeling of being overwhelmed by the number of patients, saying, 'We are surrounded by nursing homes. In that sense, we got hit pretty hard.'
Despite the challenges, the medical staff at St. John's have shown resilience and compassion. One nurse shared a heart-wrenching story of a 72-year-old Polish lady who was struggling to breathe and was worried about fixing a broken tooth. The nurse wrapped the tooth in a plastic bag and stuck it behind the patient's insurance card, saying, 'You have to wrap it. I can't afford to fix it when I go home.'
The patient died the next day, and the nurse reflected on the experience, saying, 'You're not going home. You're going to be dead by tomorrow.'
As the pandemic continues to unfold, the medical staff at St. John's remain committed to their patients, despite the emotional toll of the crisis. One doctor expressed his hope that the numbers would not go back up, saying, 'I feel like we've seen the worst of it.'
However, another doctor was more cautious, saying, 'I still think the second wave is coming. I hope I'm wrong.'
The experiences of the medical staff at St. John's Hospital serve as a testament to the human cost of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resilience of those on the frontlines.
