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WINNER - JOSEPH J. WEISS, MD MEMORIAL ESSAY CONTEST
THE CHANGING OF SEASONS AND THE GAME OF LIFE IN
WAYNE COUNTY
GAURAV SHARMA, MD - PATHOLOGY, HFHS
The arrival of spring marks the revitalization of life all around us. As the Earth tilts around the Sun, trillions of trees are busy making soft buds that will eventually turn into green leaves. In a few short weeks, these tiny leaves will inundate the entire planet with shades of green—the color that signifies life on this blue planet of ours. As a species, humans are not untouched by the warm touch of spring—our communities mark this time with festivals that bookmark the changing of seasons on our collective calendars. Across Wayne County- we celebrated Easter, Passover, Holi, Nowruz, and the Chinese New Year with a story of an individual’s or a community’s struggle—and a moral—that needs to be taught to the young ones. In a way, the arrival of spring marks the point where we humans can assure ourselves that Mother Nature is again kind to us.
Before every spring, we must endure a dark winter—a season marked by cold, discomfort, and scarcity. This ‘winter’ can be in our physical environs, but also anything that makes us feel sad and uncomfortable. These include people who have passed away, relationships that have frayed, and failures in our efforts. The year 2020 was a long, dark winter across America and Wayne County, Michigan. In 2020, over 20 million Americans were diagnosed
with COVID-19, and more than 400,000 died from it. Communities like Wayne County are vulnerable in times of such public health and economic crises. With over 1.7 million residents and a poverty rate of 23.1%, our county scores high on COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (0.72). In our county, we have seen over 130,000 COVID-19 cases and witnessed over 4,300 deaths (CDC Data Tracker). Indeed, the year 2020 was a cold winter that came unannounced and refused to leave.
In such trying times, many of us yearn for the ‘summer’ that we just lost. We want to enjoy a football game in Ford Field and see our friends at the American Auto Show in Cobo (now TCF) Center. However, we must wait and
honor the fact that these public sites are now a part of
an important mission—of mass vaccination and field hospitals. While we may not see a football being kicked by a Detroit Lion, an invisible game is still being played out at Ford Field. The home team includes Detroit doctors and healthcare workers playing against a combined
team of SARS-COV-2 and medical misinformation.
Each vaccination jab is a ball passed towards an eventual victory. Each vaccinated individual is a person who is less susceptible to a ‘takedown’ by SARSCOV-2 and a proof that vaccines do more good than any harm. As of mid- April 2021, over 300,000 Wayne County residents (17 % population) have been fully vaccinated across dozens of vaccination sites in Wayne County. Eventually, our home team will push back against the virus and put it on the defensive.
The change of seasons in Michigan teaches us that life around is not static; it is dynamic. Eventually, the cold brought on by COVID-19 will end. For now, we play a daily game against the spread of SARS-COV-2. During this game, healthcare professionals will be hailed as heroes and yet pay a heavy personal price. None of us can fully control the game, but we can definitely control our daily actions and efforts. As the healthcare guardians of Wayne County, let us play our best game in 2021.
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