First of all, let’s not beat around the bush. You’re heroes. Plain and simple. You’re ALL heroes! Everyone out there helping our world maintain some semblance of normalcy. From cop to cashier – from bank teller to teacher – from doctor to delivery driver; we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to each and every one of you. A simple ‘thank you’ doesn’t cut it. We’ll continue to remember your courage in duty long after our world returns to normal…And it will return to normal.

Though the Earth still rotates at the same speed and careens around the sun at the same rate, our World has certainly slowed down. A lot. We haven’t left the house in weeks. Before this, we’d see our friends so often that occasionally we’d find any excuse for more ‘me time’. Now we relish in the company of a stranger passing by on the other side of the street and resort to FaceTime to stay in touch with our friends. We’re shuttered up, sweatpants on, watching reruns of Full House. Oh wait, that last part’s just me…whoops! Our reclusive dreams are coming true in a nightmarish fashion. And boy, does it SUCK. There’s no sugarcoating it; this “new normal” isn’t NORMAL. It’s depressing and inconvenient.

But it’s not about the inconvenience. It’s not about having to wear a ‘community mask’ when you’re out in public. It’s not about needing a haircut or wanting to open a tab at your favorite watering hole. It’s not about the stock market tumbling or the skyrocketing unemployment rate. No – It’s not about any of that.

It’s about LIFE!

…and in some cases, unfortunately death.

Nowhere is this storyline echoed stronger than inside the frontlines of each hospital and field hospital fighting COVID19. Or inside the ambulances, firetrucks, and squad cars where our first responders are working 24hr shifts to shuttle the sick and dying to get the help they need. When sirens roar to life their battle cry, trip after trip – they rip through city streets swiftly ferrying the dying to their one beacon of hope.

It’s there in those halls, those rooms, those makeshift stalls – split ventilators and all – that doctors, nurses, and frontline healthcare workers lay their lives on the line to remain that beacon of hope for your grandma struggling to breathe from COVID19 or your uncle with COPD. Or that beacon of hope for your best friend who struggles with asthma and fears for her life. A place where – day in and day out, they scrub in and scrub out and put themselves directly in harm’s way to be that beacon of hope.

These soldiers sport the standard issue stethoscope. They’ve substituted camo and body armor with N95s and scrubs. They’re warriors fighting an invisible enemy we still know so little about.

But yet, they rise.

Day after day. Shift after shift. Rising ready to battle the unknown. Our frontline healthcare warriors are combatting not only an invisible enemy, but also the fear of all of the ‘what if’s’?

“What if I get sick?”, “What if I get my family sick?”…“What if I die?” These are all REAL and seemingly unthinkable questions these courageous heroes think about each day they walk out the door. For most of us the world will be back to normal in due time. For our frontline healthcare workers, the battle is winding down, but the fight will never be over. The looming threat of post-pandemic PTSD is becoming a new, real crisis that deserves the utmost and urgent attention.

Nurses, doctors, first responders, and healthcare workers across our world, the team here at Focus Forward Media is inspired by your dedication, bravery, and sheer badassery battling in the epicenter of this epic pandemic. There will be stories…and documentaries…telling of your courage for centuries to come. I’m sure I speak for the rest of America when I say you’ve had our backs through this all. You’ve put your lives on the line in every way. You held our hands when we couldn’t have family with us during our darkest hours. You spent entire shifts in heavy protective equipment in rooms with strangers who can barely see who you are. You couldn’t go get a drink of water because you can’t take of your mask during your entire shift. You brought a few changes of clothes because you sweat through your scrubs after hours trapped in heavy PPE. You sacrificed so much. And because of that we’re thankful. When we look to you, we see hope. We see determination. You’re steadfast in your duty.

When a global pandemic grinds the rest of the world to a screeching halt, did you stop? No. When hospitals ran out of PPE or when the CDC lowered guidelines for protective equipment; further endangering your lives, did you stop? No. When the death rate was so high that freezer trucks were converted to morgues to keep up with the rising death toll, did you tap out? No.

Throughout our lives you’ve been there for us. You were there when we were born; taking our first breath in this great, big world. You’ll be there as we breath our last, too. And you’ll be there whenever we need you in between. In these uncertain times, there’s one thing that will never, ever change.

You.

You’ve been our beacon of hope and you will forever be our beacon of hope. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. For EVERYTHING you do.

Love,

The Team at Focus Forward Media

Mike N., Mike M., Mike B., & Max M

PS – Our team wanted to do something small to show our appreciation for our #HealthcareHeroes, so yesterday we brought coffee and bagels to our hometown crew at the Miriam Hospital to energize these superheroes on the frontlines. We’re forever indebted to you! Thank you so much for everything you do for us! Here are a few shots from our socially distanced trip!