LI Coronavirus Hero: PA Plays Music, Paints Nails As Caring Acts

BELLMORE, NY— As Long Islanders practice social distancing and make personal sacrifices as part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, many look to those on the front lines as inspiration. Patch will be highlighting Long Islanders who are going above and beyond in their work and community to help during the health crisis.

Dolores LiBassi has been inspired by her daughter-in-law Anna Verde during the pandemic. Verde is a physician assistant at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola. LiBassi says she is going above and beyond to attend to the patients in her care.

"While this dreaded coronavirus was spreading so rapidly, she visited an elderly gentleman, who was admitted to the hospital with complications due to a fall. He had been intubated. Anna would visit this patient and stand by his side. The quarantine had just been put into place, allowing only one family member to visit at a time. She was saddened by this and wanted to connect him with his loves ones."

Verde set the patient up to Facetime his family and then reached out to a family member to find out what kind of music he enjoyed listening to so she could play a song he liked for him.

"In return, she actually received a slight smile and a form of recognition by him slightly moving his limb. There were tears of joy and sorrow streaming from under her face mask—a moment of gratitude," LiBassi recounted.

Verde contacted several beauty companies like Sephora and Ulta asking for samples so she could brighten isolated patients' days with beauty treatments like manicures, LiBassi said.

"Her goal was to put a smile on their faces while dealing with being alone and no visitors allowed."

Verde, a mother of two young children, relies on her faith and the support of her family as sources of strength as she works on the front lines, says LiBassi.

If you know someone who should be featured—a health care worker, a first responder, a volunteer or anyone making a difference— email us at jboydsweet@gmail.com to nominate your local hero.