A Year Of The Pandemic At MelroseWakefield Hospital

MELROSE, MA — The staff at MelroseWakefield Hospital has been overworked and overburdened for a year now. They're also very, very much appreciated.

Hospital leadership on Monday held a moment of remembrance for the patients and victims of the pandemic. It also recognized the people who have worked around the clock since last March, sharing in the triumphs and defeats of what for a long time seemed like an endless struggle.

Now, with burgeoning optimism that the worst is behind them, the hospital workers are — not quit yet exhaling — but are able to take stock of what they've gone through.

"This is a day of recognition, but it's really in my mind a day of mixed emotions," Dr. Steve Sbardella, who has been in charge of the hospital's pandemic response, said.

The hospital plans on planting 863 flowers in front of the main entrance, one for each patient treated for COVID-19 at the hospital as of Monday. That number is still growing, though at a much slower rate than before.

The virus has claimed more than 130 lives at the hospital.

The staff has been there through it all.

"Never, never in my almost 40-year career have I ever been more proud to help lead teams to care for patients during this terrible, terrible time in our lives," Chief Nursing Officer Deborah Cronin-Waelde said. "But we are creating history. We are stronger because of it."

That strength wasn't lost on anyone.

"Today I know we're stronger we're still together," MelroseWakefield Healthcare CEO Sue Sandberg said. "We've made it through the hardest part."

Related

• Virus-Weary MelroseWakefield Hospital Begins Vaccines, See Hope
• Hospitals Hope For The Best, Prepare For The Worst
• Parade Of Sirens, Lights Show MelroseWakefield Hospital The Love
• Hospital Gets 'Happy' When Coronavirus Patients Discharged

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Melrose Patch or Wakefield Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.