A 24-year-old from Hamburg continues to work at St.
Joseph's in Cheektowaga fighting COVID-19 on the frontlines even after switching his major to become a social studies teacher.
A LOCAL COLLEGESTUDENT IS GETTING AHANDS-ON EDUCATIONIN HOW TO RESPONDTO A GLOBALPANDEMIC.NIKKI DEMENTRILEARNED ABOUT HISEXPERIENCE ON THEFRONT LINES OF THEFIGHT."I HAVE MY DOCTORDANA BOOKS,TEACHING HISTORY..."TRAVIS ZIELINSKI HASTHREE MORESEMESTERS ATBUFFALO STATECOLLEGE UNTIL HEBECOMES A SOCIALSTUDIES TEACHER.HIS "TO DO" LISTCOLOR-COORDINATEDTO ENSURE HE GETSEVERYTHING DONE."I HAVE EVERYTHINGPLANNED OUTPERFECTLY OR ITWON'T WORK."IT WON'T WORKBECAUSE HE'S ALSOBALANCING ANOTHERJOB ON THEFRONTLINES OF THECOVID-19 PANDEMIC."I SIGNED UP TO WORKAT ST.
JOES TO HELPSO TO STOP HELPINGAT ST JOES WHEN THENEED IT THE MOST,THAN WHAT'S THEPOINT?"THE 24-YEAR-OLDWORKS THREE EIGHTHOUR SHIFTS A WEEKAS A NURSINGASSISTANT AT ST.JOSEPH'S INCHEEKTOWAGA.HE TENDS TOPATIENTS FIGHTINGFOR THEIR LIVES."WHAT A CHANGEGOING FROM LIKE I CUTMY FINGER TO I'M ON AVENTILATOR.""IT'S SOMETHING YOUNEVER IMAGINE TOSEE."FROM NAMES ANDHEART RATES TODOGS AND THEBUFFALO BILLS,ZIELINSKI SAYSEVERYTHING THEYNEED TO KNOW ABOUTA PATIENT IS WRITTENON THE WINDOW."WE TAKE ON THE ROLEOF OBVIOUSLY THEIRCAREGIVER, BUT ALSOTHEIR FAMILY."ZIELINSKI SAYS WHAT'SHAPPENING ISDISHEARTENING ANDEMOTIONALLYDRAINING."IT'S REALLYSOMETHING YOU CAN'TEXPLAIN.
YOU DON'TEXPECT TO SEE DEATHIN SUCH LARGEQUANTITY."BUT WHAT MAKES ITWORTH IT IS WHENHE HEARS "DON'TSTOP BELIEVING" OR"LIVIN' ON A PRAYER".THAT'S MEANSSOMEONE IS GOINGHOME."THE NURSES WILLCRY.
THEY'LL CRY, BUTWE'RE IN PPE SO LIKEOUR GOGGLES ARE ALLFOGGED UP, SO NOWWE HAVE TO GO UNDOIT.
IT'S A MESS, BUT IT'SBEAUTIFUL, IT'SWONDERFUL.'ZIELINSKI USED TO BEA NURSING MAJOR.
HEKEPT THIS UP EVENAFTER HE SWITCHEDBECAUSE HE LOVESHIS COLLEAGUES.BUT IT'S ALSO A JOBHE QUESTIONEDCONTINUING AS NEWSSET IN ST.
JOSEPH'SWOULD ONLY TREATCOVID-19 PATIENTS.N: YOU'RE WORKINGUNTIL THE WEE HOURSOF THE MORNINGGETTING YOURSCHOOLWORK DONE,BUT YOU'RE ALSOWORKING AT ST.
JOE'S.TELL ME WHY KEEPDOING BOTH?Z: THERE'S BEEN A LOTOF PEOPLE WHO HAVEOPTED OUT, SO IFEVERYBODY KEEPSOPTING OUT, THERE'SGOING TO BE NO ONE.IT JUST DOESN'T SITRIGHT WITH ME.
I THINKIT'S SOMETHING I HAVETO DO.FROM THE POSTER ONTHE FENCEBORDERING ST.
JOE'SPARKING LOT TO THESHOUTOUT FROMMORE THAN 200FELLOW FRONTLINEWORKERS LASTWEEK--SIRENSZIELINSKI SAYS THANKYOU.AND AS THE SIGN INFRONT OF ST.JOSEPH'S READS:FAITH, HOPE ANDLOVE.
THREE THINGSZIELINSKI SAYS HEPLANS ONCONTINUING FOR ASLONG AS THEHOSPITAL NEEDS HIM.ND, 7EWN.
Acceptance Speech by Kristalina Georgieva, IMF Managing Director, Venice, Italy
President Mattarella, Governor Visco,..