Pre-Medical Student Aids COVID-19 Victims as Emergency Responder :: Adventist News Network

Jun 26, 2020  |  Riverside, California, United States  |  Darla Martin Tucker

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When senior pre-medical student Marielis George received an email in March announcing La Sierra University’s transition online due to the advancing pandemic, she faced a daunting reality.

George, a native of New York State with just months remaining in her degree program, had the option of remaining on campus, but she felt a responsibility to her parents to fly home to Yonkers, 20 miles outside of New York City. She arrived on March 15, as the city was buckling under the pandemic’s devastating spread. 

As of May 28, officials reported more than 16,600 COVID-19 deaths in New York City and almost 200,000 cases. Major spikes struck in April, overwhelming hospitals and medical personnel.

In Yonkers, George’s father, Mario George, wanted his daughter to remain safely secluded in their family home, but she had other plans. George is a certified emergency medical technician who is studying health science with a bio-health concentration and taking pre-med courses toward becoming a surgeon or physician. She felt called to serve on the front lines of the pandemic, and, in spite of the dangers and her fears, she signed up to work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with an ambulance company in her home town. 

During spring break, George worked roughly 64 hours a week and now works weekends while taking five La Sierra classes over Zoom video conferencing. Her company often responds to emergency calls in New York City and the majority of George’s journeys have been to help people stricken by the highly contagious COVID-19. 

She and her co-workers are careful in their use of protective gear. “We simply provide help where help is needed,” George said. “Protocols have been modified in order to properly execute care during this pandemic. My wonderful mother has been making masks so I use the one she made for me, but we only ‘gear-up’ when we are dispatched to a patient that is suspected of COVID-19 or has tested positive. Although it is dangerous, we do not gear up for every call because of limited resources.”

Her work day begins by meeting up with her partner and inspecting her ambulance and medic bag to ensure all necessary supplies are present. There is also mental and emotional preparation, an aspect of the job that is included in EMT training. “It is challenging to deal with patients at this time simply because everyone is in panic and confusion. I constantly have to remind myself to remain calm so my patients remain calm,” she said. “Emotionally, it’s hard to see families and patients suffer.”

The suffering found its way into George’s own family. The rapidly-spreading virus took the life of her aunt and her aunt’s husband within a nine day span. Relying on her faith and the support of family and friends, the university senior continues pushing forward in her effort to help those in distress. Her own loss has helped her better connect with those stricken by illness. “I noticed that I am able to find the proper words to say to patients much quicker than before,” she said. “COVID isn’t going to stop me from trying to make a positive impact on those who cross my path.”

George, her mother, Seneida George, and older sister, Melise Reyes attend the Spanish Yonkers Seventh-day Adventist Church. George reads her Bible regularly with a good friend from school and with others, and recognizes that her present challenges are drawing her closer to God. 

“I definitely enjoy reading my Bible much more, and having someone to do it with you and hold you accountable makes it so much more rewarding,” said George. “My faith definitely has been tested but, thankfully, not weakened.” 

As she notes in her LaSierraTogether profile, “Comfort is found knowing that God knows my unknown, He’s in control of my sadness and anxiety, and most of all, He escaped death.”

This article was originally published on the North American Division’s news site