Meet Ashley Lightbourn (she/her), a certified nursing aide in the Capitol Region. CNA’s like Ashley are right on the front lines of this global crisis. They are being worked especially long hours, and seeing the darker side of the situation, but standing firm in their positive faith. Nursing facilities are amongst the top populations of virus infested areas, as most - if not all- of their patients are high risk being elderly or having pre existing conditions. “My biggest struggle during this quarantine is finding a balance. I work overnight and then I come home to my 3 year old who is usually up and ready to play! I have been picking up a lot of shifts so just trying to balance getting rest and being a mom has been a little more challenging these days.”
Ashley, like many of the humans we’d talked to for this project that are still going into their jobs everyday, have children at home. “My daughter has a compromised immune system and in the end, she always comes first.” Between home schooling, making sure there are disinfectants available in the home, and child size masks - parents still have to teach their kids “normal” things like how to tie their shoes. Parents all around are doing their best at giving their kids the most “normal” year of their lives, when this time has been anything but normal for any of us.
Human touch is extremely underrated, and right now the thought of it is so far from the front of our minds. Not only because we don’t want to contract COVID-19, but because there are literal laws and boundaries that prohibit us from doing so outside of our immediate households. Health care professionals that work directly with patients, are used to providing that sympathetic touch. The hand on their shoulder that “everything is going to be okay”. They are that person to provide the hug, handshake, or even sit at their bedside at times when there is no other family. “I have just been a lot more aware of what I touch and what touches me. Working with my residents, I wouldn't mind sitting with them and holding their hands or siting near them but now I try to keep a little more of a distance or wear my gloves to hold their hands which to me hinders the comfort that the hand holding could offer.” The emotional stress this puts on the workers is just as - if not more- taxing as physical labor.
That said, there is not all grim and gray in Ashley’s story. Leaning on faith has been a saving grace (no pun intended) for her, like many people. “To stay positive I listen to my favorite gospel songs. 'My response' by Phil Thompson has been on repeat.” Ashley tells us, “I believe God has paused the world for a reason and its important to figure out what the reason was.” Self introspection has been helpful to some, but if that’s not your path, that’s okay.
Reading these stories from other humans is meant to bring us together more… shed light on human connection and likeness through all walks of life and professions. That being said, the project is also to shed light on how we are all diverse. Whether it be what keeps us positive, whether it be things we enjoy doing, or whether its reading stories about struggle, it will all bring us together in one way or another.
Struggle isn’t always negative, sometimes it’s the catalyst to what makes us grow and there is no shame in that. There’s this quote somewhere about diamonds. Diamonds are only created while under immense pressure, so as Ashleys optimism aligns with that. She has faced this virus head on, and still keeps her positive aura that radiates in the pictures above through her ear to ear smile. “The pandemic has taught me to continue to believe in myself and to be okay with leaning on others when I need help.” The community The Pandemic Project, co workers, families, and the world has created is a beautiful thing and I’m grateful to be a part of it and meet these incredible humans.
In the words of the great, late Bill Withers…. “we all need somebody to lean on.”
Thank you Ashley and all the CNA’s working day in and day out to care for, and nurse our loved ones back to health.
// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Ms. Lightbourn and not reflective of Faiella Studios.