Submitted by Averie Miner

Juniors Averie and Faith Miner pose for a selfie together wearing personal protective equipment. Averie said she is happy her mom is working an online job which keeps her family safe. She said her family hopes to make the best out of the situation they are in.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, medical professionals across the country are working tirelessly in offices, hospitals and clinics to provide the best care for patients. Some of these people have another challenge they face every day: The looming possibility of bringing the virus into their homes every night after work.

 Fortunately for junior Averie Miner, whose mother works in the medical field, those fears have been somewhat alleviated. 

“Although this is a really tough time for families, we are lucky that my mom was offered an online position where she can stay protected while still doing her job,” Averie said.

Averie’s mom, Dana Brimer, has worked as a gastrointestinal (GI) nurse for the last 16 years, serving members of the community and the IU Health team. The hospital offered Mrs. Brimer this position working remotely in an effort to protect others and herself during this unknown and challenging time.

“We were told on a Tuesday that we were no longer going to be able to continue doing our GI cases due to COVID-19. We would be closed the following day,” Mrs. Brimer said. “The next day we were given information to call our Resource Command Center for placement during the pandemic. I was placed at the COVID-19 Command Center downtown Indy providing virtual care to our Team Members and the public.”

Mrs. Brimer’s new online position consists of assessing patients for the disease, placing them in quarantine if deemed necessary and educating patients on the precautionary measures they can take for the prevention of spreading COVID-19. 

But unlike Mrs. Brimer, many other healthcare professionals don’t have the option to work from home, and that exposes them to greater risk.

“I was very concerned for my son, who has moderate asthma and so afraid that I would bring the virus home to my family. I was beyond grateful to be placed at the Virtual Hub,” Mrs. Brimer said.

Other nurses in similar positions to Mrs. Brimer continue to work in-person treating those diagnosed with the virus. Major hospitals across Indiana like Indiana University Health, St. Vincent and Eskenazi Health, as well as smaller hospitals, work around the clock to not only make sure those with the virus are given the best treatment but also keeping their staff’s risk of contraction to a minimum.

“I think the hospitals have done a fabulous job working together and consolidating resources to take care of the sickest COVID-19 patients,” Mrs. Brimer said. “I have seen fellow nurses sicker than sick due to their dedication to these patients that they treat like family.” 

Averie said she admired her mother during this time as a nurse treating those who are sick. Both she and Mrs. Brimer said they hope for a fast recovery for the world and they both said they keep a positive attitude in light of this pandemic.

Mrs. Brimer said, “I am so proud to be a nurse at this time.”