CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Michelle Plaza could only get through a few words before tearing up.
Having spent the past six months weathering the strain that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on doctors and nurses across the world, the patient care supervisor's voice started to tremble as she read a short, but heartfelt letter of appreciation from a member of the Florida Panthers staff.
Panthers Celebrate 'Healthcare Heroes' at Doctors Hospital
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"Thank you so much for everything you're doing each and every day for all of us," she read aloud before pausing to gather herself. "With my mom being a nurse, I've been able to see what people like you have being doing to keep people safe and healthy. We can't thank you enough."
Even as the world starts to work towards getting back to normal, it's important to remember that the heroes of the pandemic like Plaza are still on the frontlines in the fight against the virus. And even though they aren't looking for it, continued support from the community can go a long way.
"You never expect it, but it's very much appreciated," Plaza said.
While delivering thank you letters was certainly a good start, the Panthers went even further to show their gratitude to these heroes when they surprised roughly 1,200 staff members at Baptist Health South Florida's Doctors Hospital with a cheerful employee appreciation event last month.
For many doctors and nurses, lunch breaks have become an escape during these hectic times. "It gives the staff an opportunity to step away in the middle of the day," said Diane Amado-Tate, the chief nursing officer at Doctors Hospital. "They can disconnect and recharge a little bit. I think that's the most important piece. It's hard when you have really sick patients to step away."
Since the pandemic started, Amado-Tate said that local support for staff has gone a long way.
"It really helps to feed their souls," she said. "Never in their lifetime did they imagine they'd be dealing with this acuity of sick patients. The support from the community means everything. It really boosts their spirits."
As part of the employee appreciation event, the Panthers handed out hand-packed lunches and merchandise throughout the afternoon at the hospital in Coral Gables. A DJ was also on site to lift spirits, and staff had access to some socially-distant hockey activities like floorball.
Of course, Stanley C. Panther also made an appearance to serve lunches and pose for photos.
"We're so thrilled that the Panthers are here celebrating with us," said Doctors Hospital and Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute CEO Javier Hernandez-Lichtl. "Our staff - meaning our physicians, our nurses and our support staff - have been working so hard taking care of the Miami-Dade community during this crisis. It's so important for our staff just to relax for a few minutes, come down, pause and celebrate."
With support still pouring in from all around the community, Hernandez-Lichtl said it's been heartwarming to see people go above and beyond in recognizing the sacrifices that are being made by healthcare workers not only right now, but each and every day throughout the year.
"We're here 24/7," Hernandez-Lichtl said. "We never pause. We never stop."
Looking ahead, the Panthers hope their impromptu celebration will help keep the spotlight on these healthcare heroes as they continue to fight the good fight in pursuit of a better tomorrow. "We wanted to do something kind for the hardworking employees at Baptist Health South Florida," Panthers Senior Vice President Shawn Thornton said. "Throughout 2020, these frontline workers have been serving our community in their roles during our community's hardships. We want to thank them in any way we can and remind them that their efforts have not gone unnoticed."