General | 04/19/20 | 2:46 PM

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in a profound way over the past few months. 

The United States has seen over 700,000 cases and 30,000 deaths due to the disease. Montana itself has seen about 400 cases and seven deaths. 

While we follow guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to quell future outbreak, Carroll College Athletics would like to take a moment to thank our healthcare workers.

Carroll College Athletics in conjunction with the rest of the Carroll campus would like to extend a thank you to our nursing graduates, who are risking their own wellbeing for the greater good of our nation and beyond our borders. 

Carroll College develops some of the best nurses in the nation because of one of the best training facilities in the region and some of the best faculty to boot. Our graduates make us proud and typically rise quickly in their profession. Now, more than ever, their work amid a pandemic is healing our country and protecting our loved ones. To all of those helping keep us safe in this difficult time, a sincere Thank You!

For more information regarding COVID-19, check with your local officials and media. 

Carroll Athletics had a chance to catch up with three former Carroll student-athletes now working in healthcare to see how the fight on the frontlines of this pandemic is going.  Sara Chalich, '18, Bachelor of Science in Nursing 
Registered Nurse at St. Luke's Medical Center in Boise, Idaho on the Labor & Delivery unit
Chalich played two seasons of hoops for the Saints.

How did your job change amidst the pandemic?

"The goal of having a safe delivery to a healthy baby hasn't changed, but everything to make that possible has. We have been mandated to be on call for 36 extra hours to try to induce/deliver at 39 weeks before the hospital is overrun by more COVID-19 cases. Due to high demand, we are given one mask to wear for the 12-hour shift and a brown paper bag (which we ran out of) to store during lunchtime. There's no huddle before shift change, no bedside report, no visitors besides the father of the baby, and soon no hand sanitizer. If a mother tests positive, we omit delayed cord clamping, which is significant for transitional circulation. The newborn needs to be bathed before administering meds… The worst part, we have to separate the newborn from the mother. Experts say this CDC recommendation is not supported by evidence and could cause lasting harm.

"Other units -- especially the Emergency Department — have asked for help with simple tasks such as vitals, IV starts, Foley care, etc. St. Lukes is doing its best to keep us safe. They implemented thermal temperature scanners for all employees upon entering the facility, mandatory training in PPE, and virtual healthcare to minimize people in the hospital." 

What allows you to stay positive during a challenging time? 

"Living in a time of uncertainty is scary. It makes life feel heavy, messy, and chaotic. Through this trying time, I remind myself that nothing lasts forever and the sun will rise again. I still get the blessing of bringing life into the world. It's life changing, fulfilling, beautiful, yet stressful and adding the emotional and financial strain of COVID-19 is even more so. Just when you think life couldn't get more crazy, we have an earthquake. But these little miracles remind me that there are still good things ahead.

"Our leadership has been amazing. They keep inspiring us to believe that the impossible is possible. Our bad week is yet to come so we need to keep perseverance in our minds and passion in our hearts. I want to give a shout out to all community members for donating supplies because it's going to take all of us to beat this virus."

Any words of advice to those outside of the healthcare profession? Any ways the general public can help? 

"To the public, stay aware, stay current, stay home, and please wash your hands. It's going to be longer than most people expected but these mitigation steps to limiting contact with others is working. If we don't practice social distancing, we will have a skyrocket number of cases and deaths. Everyone needs to take it seriously because that's the only way we will get a handle on it. To my colleagues and first line responders, be bold, be brave, be strong, and be hopeful. Throw on your PPE and keep showing up. We got this." 

Anything else you'd like to share with Saints supporters? 

"To all Saint supporters, doctors, nurses, paramedics, hospital aids, techs, and janitors who are on the front lines are exhibiting bravery, commitment, and sacrifice: They deserve thanks but more importantly equipment and support that are essential to do our jobs. The army isn't sent into battle without protective equipment. Firefighters aren't sent into burning buildings without protective equipment. Why should nurses battle a world-wide pandemic without proper protective equipment? We may be at the front lines but we are all in this together. Please keep these sweet patients in your prayers and all of the hospital staff working day and night to fight this virus. Do your part and stay home."

Torrie (Cahill) Neumann, '13, Health Science and Community Health Degree
Registered Nurse, PICU at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver, Colorado
Neumann, then Cahill, played four years of basketball for the Fighting Saints women's team. 

How did your job change amidst the pandemic?

"Just like everyone else, the pandemic has had significant impacts on my personal life but (believe it or not) I do not have firsthand experience of the COVID-19 healthcare impacts because I am currently on maternity leave. My husband and I welcomed our son into this world  right before COVID-19 hit the US… How's that for timing?

"While on maternity leave, I've remained in contact with coworkers and I can't say enough how proud I am of them all. I would say the biggest change for them has been the fear that now surrounds their everyday work. Fear for their patients lives, the fear of bringing the virus home to their families and a fear for their own health. Prior to each shift, the nurses are screened upon entering the hospital for fevers and other symptoms. Outside of work, they are to take routine temperatures and document them in an app for HR to review. Fortunately, COVID-19 has not had a large impact on the pediatric population but there are still cases." 

What allows you to stay positive during this challenging time? 

"Having a newborn at home has been the biggest blessing — the joy he has brought into our lives makes it easy to block out everything else that is happening in the world. My husband is now working from home and we are so thankful to share more time together as a family." 

Any words of advice to those outside of the healthcare profession? Any ways the general public can help? 

"The most important thing I would ask of everyone right now is to follow the social distancing guidelines until told otherwise. Isolating ourselves is difficult but the risks of not doing so are far greater. Now more than ever, I am thankful for technology that allows us to remain in contact with family and friends. So pick up those phones and check-in on all your loved ones!" 

Anything else you'd like to share with Saints supporters? 

"I have nothing but appreciation for Carroll College and all the Saints supporters. I learned so many important life lessons as a Saint. I connected with incredible people that have turned into life-long friendships. Even with a pandemic going on, it's still a great day to be a Saint!!!"

Sammy (Priddy) Mediate, '11, Bachelor of Science in Nursing 
Registered Nurse at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana
Mediate, then Priddy, played four seasons of volleyball for the Fighting Saints while she pursued her degree. 

SM: "The care provided to patients hasn't changed since the pandemic really took effect, but the workflow of the entire hospital has been significantly impacted. Since there are no visitors allowed in the hospital, to get in you have to show your badge, get your temperature checked, get your mask to wear all day, and then areas that care for COVID-19 patients (ER, ICU, and designated step-down COVID-19 unit) receive hospital provided scrubs. It has been difficult for patients, families, and caregivers not to be able to have family at the bedside. Video calls have been really helpful in this, but it's not the same as being able to physically be with and there for their loved ones.

"I would like to thank the community for being so understanding of the safety measures we have in place. I can't imagine the additional stress it has caused them to be away from their loved one requiring hospitalization. The outpouring of support from our community and state as a whole has been amazing. I can't speak enough to this. I have cried many times … reading notes of thanks from business and individuals from Missoula. Besides the community support, getting to go home to my husband and baby after a long shift is everything to me. We haven't gotten to a point where we have to quarantine from our families yet … If that time comes it will be extremely difficult, but we will do it and we are prepared for it. Mostly I'd like to thank the public for their unbelievable support and for helping us keep Montana safe! We can't do it without everyone doing their part."