Page 4 - The Wayne Dispatch

Passion, Continued from page 3

of this year, rounds out the rosy pic-
ture.
The first words Morris uttered
upon coming off the ventilator were,
“Thank you, God,” and her gratitude
hasn’t wavered since. Furthermore,
not once did she ever contemplate
her return to nursing following her
recovery from COVID-19.
Having turned the corner on what
could easily be characterized as one
of the darkest periods of her life,
Morris, who has since returned to
work as an assistant clinical man-
ager, relishes the opportunity to
share her story and continues to
offer hope to her patients—and February 2021 Monique receiving COVID
everyone she meets. vaccine at Henry Ford Hospital.
Helping others and cheering
them on to good health: That’s why
Morris, who became a nurse in 2017
after graduating from Davenport Uni-
versity, chose this profession in the
first place.
The timeline of what transpired
during the early weeks of March
2020—the time when Morris became
infected with the virus—remains
fresh in her mind. “I remember I
went to work, and it was status quo;
you know, like normal…then I
started my shift the very next day,
and I remember there were gurneys
lining the hallways. One of the doc- Monique with her
tors said to me, ‘It’s here, Monique.’
It all just happened so fast.” Monique Morris April 2020 in ICU at Henry Ford Hospital. husband Darryl Morris.
However, like many, Morris re- portance of increasing Michigan’s health, and in turn, setting an exam- “Even if COVID didn’t affect you
mains optimistic about life’s return vaccination rate. “Whether I’m speak- ple for others, who could then take medically, if it didn’t take your job
to normalcy post COVID-19, and she ing to my patients, family, or friends, responsibility for their own health,” away, if it didn’t take your favorite
is a firm believer that vaccines are I tell them that we have enough she says. hobbies away, if it didn’t take a loved
paving the way. “I never want to be things in life that divide us—the vac- Morris says that, ultimately, she one away, we’ve all still been touched
critically ill from COVID-19 again,” cine doesn’t need to be one of them.” wants people to not only know what by this,” says Morris.
says Morris. “I grew up in a time when we did a vaccine is but to also understand “This isn’t about us, individually,
“If I could just reach one person, things to help one another. For me, how it works, and how vaccine effi- it’s about our community as a
that would be a goal of mine,” ex- personally, getting vaccinated meant cacy can be such a vital tool in over- whole—humanity. We need to work
plains Morris with regard to the im- taking responsibility for my own coming the plight of this virus. together. No matter what it takes.”

4 · May 2021 · The Wayne Dispatch