Nurse delivers powerfully grim plea after watching hospital fill with COVID patients

Lacie Gooch, a COVID ICU nurse at Nebraska Medicine took to Twitter to ask people to take the pandemic seriously as cases surge.

[dr.valvillanueva]

I cannot stress how important it is to protect yourself and others from COVID. People are sick and dying. We are exhausted in the ER. *Do not trust anyone else to be careful.*

[nancymartinezp]

People complain about using masks for an hour, or wear it with their nose out (which infuriates me) because it is too much for them to handle....while this nurse wears it a whole 12 hour shift. You can see she has a deep mark made by the mask on her cheek....I admire health care professionals so much! All my appreciation to them!

[johns.greene]

The woman's not spreading fear it's a reality

[sammishaf]

Just lost my grandma to Covid on Thanksgiving night. She meant everything to me and I didn't even get to say goodbye. Please wear your masks to protect the vulnerable ones of society.

[Thierell]

When we get out of this we need to do something to show appreciation to all the essential workers.

[shop.eat.repeat.]

When I watch this I get so angry at the people who say COVID-19 is fake. Honestly, this nurse witnesses it every day -it’s not fake!
I work in a nursing home and unfortunately we had 12 of our lovely beautiful residents pass with Covid. It wasn’t something you would want to see and no family could be with them. Our nurses and PSWs sat and held their hands. Please keep safe everyone

[bilkat]

people so upset me with their B.S. on this pandemic. wear your mask and stop belly aching. You adjusted to seat belts, no smoking indoors and smart phones you can dang sure against to something that can save a life.

[themisfitmama]

My uncle, who was an anti masker, didn’t think this was serious. His sisters didn’t either. They all got together and his sisters were carrying covid and didn’t know it. He ended up getting covid from his sisters, and spent a month in the ICU. Last week, they took him off the ventilator and he died 2 hours after. He would’ve been 61 on the 29th of NOV. please. PLEASE. Heed the warnings. Take care of yourself and one another. ❤️

[susangrande]

Nurse Lacie, I’m praying for you and your fellow nurses, assistants, housekeeping, chaplains, doctors, and other support staff. I’m a fellow Omahan, and I know you’ve taken care of people I know there at Nebraska Medicine. My heart goes out to you! 🙏 I’m recovering from Covid, and I know I’ve had a relatively mild case of it. (I’ve been sick for 3 weeks now). May God bless you and keep you!

[JC-wmvq]

GOD PLEASE HELP US ALL..SO SAD SO DEPRESSING SO SO UNREAL

[TTsummerbreeze]

My heart goes out to everyone treating patients, maintaining the hospitals, feeding patients, driving ambulances or admitting patients in the medical facilities while being exposed daily to Covid-19. I hope everyone remembers the medical staff can only help a certain amount of people at one time. Remember many of the hospital beds are filled with Covid-19 patients leaving a deficit for other medical crisis. Someone may need a hospital admission for a heart attack, having a baby, stroke, broken limb, cancer treatment, etc. and the hospital will have to turn people away. I have so much respect for the hospital and medical staff everywhere as they are leaving their families to help everyone else. Until the end of this virus I will continue to do what I can to keep my family and others safe to prevent overwhelming the medical community everywhere.

[brittanycharisse]

I am a volunteer that provides food shelter and necessities to homeless and food insecure families. From the very beginning we recognized the importance of wearing masks social distancing and hand washing. We've never wavered on this issue. So far covid has not gotten into this most vulnerable population which is my biggest fear. My heart goes out to this nurse. Wear a mask it's easy simple.

[charlespackwood]

she is heroic & has a breaking heart for her patients. she cries when she goes home. what a heart!

[donnab]

Its sad people have to be so selfish & miserable looking for an agruement about wearing a mask to not only protect others but themselves & their families. Some people may get COVID some may not but why put anyone at risk just so they can act like a teenager stomping their feet defying the rules. Don't wear one its your choice. I wear one not only for me but my loved ones. I could never forgive myself if I had COVID (not knowing) & passed it on to my mother or father. Or one of my kids and grandbabies that would send me over the edge knowing I could have potentially harmed or killed someone when all I had to do is wear a mask, wash my hands and keep a distance.

[debrabolton]

The essential workers in the hospitals and nursing homes are truly heroes. Thank God for them.

[Pixellava]

Health care workers are superheroes! We can all support them by preventing ourselves from getting sick and supporting other community members. Water a GOOD mask, not a freakin’ bandana (the virus doesn’t care if you phone it in), stay apart, take Vitamin D, get 8+ hours of sleep every night, eat as healthfully as you can, get 20 minutes of exercise everyday (if you can’t jog, walk. If you can’t walk move your arms or legs - just move), check on elders, cheer someone up so they have the motivation to keep doing the steps to stay safe. Health care workers are no longer the frontline, they are our last line of defense. WE are the frontline now. And we can do it.

[anitainmo]

Thank you for all that you do. Please stay safe. May God bless you and all our frontline workers, essential workers and everyone who is putting their lives at risk to save others. Thank you!

[marybaker]

Thank you to all the nurse and doctors

[vincentbraun]

why are the starving and homeless not affected by coronavirus?

[shortyelsy]

My job doesn’t want to close i work at a daycare parents are coming positive and there’s so many kids there’s some who are positive too. And they still come to daycare. Are school has never been properly disinfect or clean by professionals. We have to clean ourselves and it’s hard and stressful the worst part is we don’t get paid enough. My back is killing me of having to deep clean my room everyday.