Lot's of Thank You's Need to be Recognized...
Vitas Healthcare Specialists attended "Walk In My Shoes" and truly put in the WALK!
As well as Nova Southeastern University! They placed a challenge to others, and SHOWED UP! They truly put the spirit into the walk with gusto!
AND WE MUST MENTION the Man of the Hour, TO GIVE THE BENEDICTION,
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE FIRST SGT. JUAN CORDERO OF
CAPE CORAL. ORIGINALLY FROM THE PHILLIPINES, HE IS
CHAPLAIN OF THE DVA-DISABLED VETERANS ASSOCIATION IN
CAPE CORAL AND THE VIETNAM VETERANS ASSOCIATION. HE
SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR 21 YEARS.
WELCOME
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. I AM BARBARA BELKOFF, AND IM PROUD BE PRESIDENT OF SAMPSONS INTERNATIONAL NURSING SOCIETY.
YESTERDAY MARKED THE BEGINNING OF NURSES WEEK. NEXT WEEK, WE CELEBRATE FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO NURSING-
BUT HERE TODAY, WE ALSO HONOR THE NURSES WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY THRU THE PANDEMIC AND MEMORIALIZE THOSE WHO GAVE COMFORT TO OTHERS DURING THE MANY UNKNOWNS OF THE PAST TWO YEARS. AND SADLY, SOME LOST THEIR LIVES. THEY GAVE COMFORT TO BOTH PATIENTS AND EACH OTHER, SOMETIMES BEING THE LAST FACE A PATIENT SAW BEFORE DYING. BANDING TOGETHER WITH CO-WORKERS, EXHAUSTED AND PUSHED TO THE LIMITS OF THEIR BEING, THEY WORKED WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THEIR LOVED ONES AT HOME, FOR TO GO HOME MEANT EXPOSURE.
WE STAND HERE WITH THOSE DAYS AND HOURS SEEMING LIKE OLD MEMORIE AS THE VIRUS SEEMS TO HAVE DISAPPEARED. BUT WE MUST STILL BE VIGILANT—NOT ONLY TO COVID 19 BUT TO OTHER DISEASES WHICH MAY MATERIALIZE. AND YOU-OUR NURSES AND FUTURE NURSES-WILL BE THE ONES WHOSE HANDS WE PUT OUR LIVES INTO.