In the past two months we have given special focus to the designation of SARS-COV-02, a virus whose family was long presented to us each day we spent isolated from each other and, increasingly, with the notion of our inability to intervene and help the world.
We described and heard about the discreet virus that would become a global pandemic, pages and pages of breaking news and calls for containment and protection. Little did we talk about those who were behind the scenes and discretely helping those who needed it without wanting anything in return. In fact, they did it out of their own desire to be good to others, without expecting anything or public appreciation. Volunteering, we commonly call it, altruism too, kindness. Sense of mission.
We went after some of those people who always look baffled when they ask, "but how did you find me?" The question changes the rules and in fact requires another question as an answer, “why do they do it, Tomás, Vera and Joana?”.
So, let me introduce them to you!
His name is Tomás d’Elvas Leitão and he is currently an Internal Doctor with Specific Training in Anaesthesiology at the Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, as well as a Microbiology Assistant at the Faculty of Medicine, where he graduated and never wanted to leave. In times of lockdown, he took on another mission in his life, this time proposed by Father Ricardo da of the Parish of Santo António do Estoril, to talk about his own confinement and explain, in his area, what help would be needed.
Part of the contingency reserve, Tomás is included in the group that alternates to alternative shifts and rest among medical teams. That is why he spends many days at the forefront of the most serious clinical cases and whose clinical condition is fragile and deteriorates. And for those who receive these patients, all care is mandatory, protective material is needed, but it is scarce because it is never reusable.
He made a clear request for help in order to have: surgical masks, FP2 and FP3 masks, caps, complete medical coats, protective glasses, shields and even meals. The community responded and mobilized itself. Tomás' request for help became a real success. Ready meals and snacks immediately started to arrive at the Anaesthesiology Service and the Central Operating Room, the Burn Unit, the Childbirth Unit, the Paediatric Emergency Department, UCIPed and the Paediatric Pulmonology and Infectious Diseases Units. Then came the much needed shields and funds to finance the purchase of masks, coats and headgear.
Tomás d’Elvas Leitão, as well as all the teams remain on the ground and every day need the same things, so it is important to view the video!
Her name is Vera Chambel and she is in year 4 of the Integrated Master Degree in Medicine. She always liked to help others, that was the big reason that made her became a medical student. As a student in the field of Health, she believes that everyone has a very particular desire to help those who need it most. Perhaps this explains why she has always been involved in several volunteering, some irregular, such as “Banco Alimentar”, or “Missão País”, others more regular, such as “Missão Aqui” or volunteering in a daycare centre.
Joana Sampaio is 22 years old and is currently in year 5 of the medical degree at FMUL. Aware that "we live in a time when the only thing that is asked of us is to stay home, to protect ourselves and those around us", she decided that she wanted to protect someone, but that she was not going to stay at home. She heard of a nursing home in the centre of the country with shortage of employees due to Covid-19 and decided that in the face of a very serious situation and being healthy, the reality of others could not "pass her by".
Joana learned that 12 of the home’s 18 employees had tested COVID positive and, as such, were infected at home. She became a volunteer and took on the responsibility and role of a job equivalent to that of the home’s normal employee. Creating the COmVIDas project, based on the joint work of friends and students, the objective was, more than continuing to work from home, to be able to create a platform of volunteers that would reach more institutions in Portugal that were experiencing the same
Joana, can you describe the whole process so that everyone understands the routines?
Joana Sampaio: We were organized in pairs and in 8h shifts (morning, afternoon, night) and our functions included measuring vital signs, hygiene of users and cleaning, trying above all to know and care for each elderly individual.
The reality that we faced upon arrival was enough to realize that our role was essential in that home. Even knowing the risk that we would run with our own exposure, the priority was to achieve the well-being of each user as safely as possible, through the individual protection equipment that was made available to us daily. All the security conditions combined with the fact that we are young and healthy individuals allowed greater tranquillity in the work at this institution.
Vera, to what extent is the other more important when you know that in helping you expose yourself?
Vera Chambel: The situation we are experiencing is devastating in many ways. People are afraid. I am afraid. Fear for my grandparents, parents, uncles and friends. I am afraid of the pressure imposed on the NHS, I am afraid for all health professionals and so many others who put themselves at risk for the benefit of others every day. I am afraid of the consequences of all this on our country. As a future doctor, but still so far from getting there, the frustration I feel at not being able to go to the hospital to help is enormous. I thought, there are two years left to finish the degree! Two years and my role in it would be so different! I know that I don't speak only for myself, but for many of us, when I say it. But the truth is: we can't, because we still don't know how, we haven't got there yet. However, there are many other actions at our fingertips. Solidarity is seen in the simplest things. When we were told to stay at home, I didn't question disobeying. I started my quarantine, as so many others did. And I stay safe at home. It is very important to comply with the rules imposed so that everything runs smoothly. However, difficulties arose. Many people got their lives upside down and are in need of help. Despite knowing that I had to stay at home, I couldn't ignore what was going on, I wanted to do something useful.
I am lucky that there are so many people with hearts the size of the world, who were not indifferent to these situations and who continued, restructured and created new ways of being able to help. But nobody can do it alone. Each one must do their part. So, for me, it was obvious: if I have the possibility to help, with the appropriate safety measures, then I will do it the way I can, wherever they need me.
Volunteer opportunities arose and I signed up.
Can you describe the process of your registration attempts and explain why you have only recently been contacted?
Vera Chambel: This pandemic has brought countless challenges and difficulties, however, it has also revealed the good nature of people. Everywhere, movements started to emerge organized by people of all ages, in order to help those who are experiencing more difficulties or belong to groups at risk. The wave of solidarity that has formed in such a short time has been extraordinary.
With so many movements coming up and so many ways to help, I had to choose where I should get involved. My first instinct was to enrol in something related to medicine and, perhaps because of that, I ended up delaying the start of the volunteer work. I volunteered in 5 or 6 organizations that would allow me not to miss classes which, meanwhile, continued to take place. For some I was not selected, for others I am still waiting for an answer.
So far, I have been contacted by one of them, the Benfica Parish Council.
What is your role in the food bank?
Vera Chambel: The Benfica Parish Council is providing food support to countless needy families. They currently help around 80 families. They provide baskets for these families with everything they can find. They receive a lot of food directly from the Food Bank, but this is not enough to cover all needs. They themselves have to buy most of the food they deliver. For now, what I do is to go, twice a week and with due precautions, help unload food trucks and make the baskets for later distribution.
I am still waiting to be able to help directly at the Food Bank, or at ANEM's volunteering, but for now this is what I do.
To what extent has this pandemic changed your life?
Joana Sampaio: Living in this pandemic period made me realize how difficult it can be to fulfil what I thought was the simple rule of staying at home and the huge impact this has on our routines, in our relationships, in our way of living. At the same time, it is impressive the adaptability that each person and even society itself acquires. The number of activities, solidarity projects and alternatives that arise for the various adversities that are emerging are proof of this and show our unity. The COmVIDas organization is one of these initiatives, with several missions taking place in various locations in the country. It was a volunteer experience that gave meaning to my quarantine and everything we have experienced this month, the results we have achieved, bring a great sense of accomplishment that must be felt equally by all people who remain at home.
Vera Chambel: This pandemic has changed everything. Not only my life, but everyone else's. Many had to put everything in perspective.
In my case, what changed the most was in relation to the degree. That excitement of finally starting the practical years, was quickly wiped out with all this. Practice became theory again. The internships were replaced by video lessons on zoom. Contact with patients became clinical cases behind a screen.
When it all started, Santa Maria was one of the first Faculties to react. Alternatives were quickly found so that we didn't lose the semester. Everything done to minimize the damage of this pandemic in our education is to be commended. However, it is not the same thing, it cannot be. Experience is very important in this degree, so we will always be affected. In addition, the motivation to study is lower. There is no incentive like we feel when we have someone in front of us, when we have to know everything about illnesses so as not to disappoint our tutor. Instead, we find ourselves submerged in mostly theoretical classes, which occupy a large part of our day, and then we study yet more theory.
Faced with the coldness of the decision that often needs to be quick for people like Tomás when faced with an extremely ill patient, or the frustration of wanting to be ahead of time like Telma and Joana, in order to help others more actively, what to do so that the human perspective is never lost?
Each in his own way demonstrated several active ways to help others, even in uniform, but some without being doctors.
As Tomás d’Elvas Leitão quoted about a prayer he often uses from Ignatius of Loyola, we can all be in some way at the service of detachment. And the latter does wear a uniform.
“Lord, teach me to be generous;
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil, and not to seek for rest;
To labor, and not to ask for reward -
except to know that I am doing your will.”
Joana Sousa
Editorial Team
