Superheroes often wear masks

Amber Martin, foster parent and health care worker

Superheroes almost always wear masks.  You know, Batman and his black eye covering. Superman and his head gear. All of them have some form of  a masked "disguise".

Superheroes are now wearing masks of another kind.

At Childhelp, we are not strangers to watching superheroes. We don't take for granted the opportunity to see people step up as a foster parent and walk with a child through their trauma to a  point of healing...to that hurting child, there is no greater superhero. We also are witness to the youngest of heroes as we watch children bravely overcome their trauma and abuse and embrace a life of love and joy.  Honestly, it feels like we are the privileged ones to be able to be a part of something so

Our children bravely overcome their trauma

miraculous...so heroic.
At this time in our world, though, some of our foster parents have had to wear more than one kind of superhero mask. These foster parents are not only amazing at helping kids through their trauma, but also have jobs as health care workers. Daily they are putting themselves on the frontlines of this pandemic and we are grateful for their sacrifice and for once again putting on this superhero mask.
Amber Martin is a Childhelp superhero.  She works at Children's Hospital and on top of that she is fostering three kids...who are now at home full time! Amber is having to risk exposure to Covid-19 on a daily basis.
She takes precautions.
She is careful.
But, all of that care doesn't cure the worry in her mind that she could bring this virus home to her family.  I asked Amber how she is handling all of this and taking care of her family as well.  Here are her thoughts:

Me: What are you and those around you at work feeling right now?

Amber: I feel this pressure on me. The hospital feels like a ghost town because people aren't allowed to come in. I work in the NICU and parents can only come be with their baby one at a time.  As soon as you walk in the hospital, you always wonder if there are people who will come in that day who are exposed to the virus. I cannot act like I am afraid of my patients. I have to continue to engage and make them feel comfortable.
All workers have to go through a screening process before entering. As I enter, I say a prayer each day for what might happen.  We are always ready to deploy to another area of the hospital if necessary.

Me: What routine are you going through to protect yourself and those around you?

Amber: As I said, workers have a screening and questionnaire. We go through that along with having our temperature taken before we even go inside the hospital. We wear gloves and masks at all times. If we touch something with our gloves, we change them. When I come home, I go from garage to laundry room. Chris (Amber's husband) has Lysol waiting for me and I strip down in the laundry room and spray down everything that can't go in the wash. I go straight to the shower and have to wait for hugs until I'm completely sanitized.

Me: What is the hardest part for you concerning this pandemic, both as a healthcare worker and as a foster parent?

Amber: Getting used to this new normal.  Trying to make sure the kids feel safe. Our younger one has really acted out because all of his routines have changed. I don't want them to fear what is going on in the world. They already have enough fear and worry.

Me: If you could communicate any message to us "civilians", what would it be?

Amber:  Please stay home so we can go back to seeing smiling faces, not hidden by masks. And more importantly, so that children can have both parents with them in the hospital. I can't imagine having a child in the hospital and being told I couldn't visit. But safety for the children must come first!

Amber added that we are all in this together and we  have to have faith that God will get us through this.

Angela Gribanow taking extra precautions

Another long time Childhelp foster parent, Angela Gribanow, offered similar advice. Angela and her husband John both work in medical facilities where their exposure to the virus is greater. Angela has a cousin who passed away due to this virus and knows others who were infected but gratefully have now recovered. Angela advises to keep wearing masks, wash and sanitize your hands often, and don't forget to sanitize things that you touch often like car door handles.

While neither of these two ladies think of themselves as heroes, all of us at Childhelp would beg to differ. They have loved, protected, and provided for many children and now are unselfishly loving and serving the public by using their medical skills at a time when we are most in need.

We are grateful to you and appreciate your skills and service at this time. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Every wound healed. Every child, a home.