Lauren English, a former swim team captain at the University of Georgia now in Hackensack, NJ, is treating patients and helping to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
English studied speech pathology and audiology during her time as a student athlete in the Classic City. She graduated in the class on 2012 and now works as a neurology nurse at the New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.
“Right now, that (COVID-19) is what we’re dealing with,” said English in an interview with the Athens Banner-Herald. “This is what we have in our country. We have this crisis. I don’t think any health care worker is not faced with working with these patients. We’re in it. Even though I’m in neurology, that’s what I’m focused on right now. You don’t have a specialty at this point. Your goal is to help with this pandemic and to help society.”
Many people who contract the coronavirus show little to no symptoms, but complications can be had for others. The virus can lead to much more serious things such as pneumonia, which can very often be fatal.
Read full story by Marc Weiszer here.
English is one of many employees in the medical field putting her own health on the line in order to help those in need in this chaotic time in our world’s history. Her main job is to make sure patients who tested positive for the virus are able to breathe properly.
English emphasized the importance of stopping the spread of the virus in addition treating it.
“That is our armor,” said English, talking about her mask and a protective medical clothing. “We can’t be good workers unless we keep ourselves safe because then we’ll be sick.”
“It’s hard for people who haven’t seen these types of patients to know what they’re socially distancing for,” she said. “It’s beyond important because we don’t know how much longer this thing is going to go on. My brothers and sisters in healthcare are working tirelessly to make sure that the people who did get the virus are back on their feet as much as possible. If you don’t social distance, these things are just going to get worse. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
New York City has the most cases in the United States, with the confirmed number rising to 20,011 on Thursday, as well as 280 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
English had an incredible swimming career during her time at Georgia. She helped the Dawgs capture 3 SEC championships and was runner-up twice in the NCAA championships.
It is amazing to see a former Bulldog fighting this disease on the frontline and making a difference in the world.
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