Flying high, and saving lives.
Meet Kirsten "Davis" Commins, player in DGLFFL, and a Gay Bowl champion of the Denver Mile High Club team. But today, she is flying in helicopters or planes saving children's lives. She works as a flight nurse for the Children's Hospital Colorado emergency response team and is dispatched by flight to save lives to the most gravely injured or ill children. In this new normal of COVID-19 era, Kirsten has had to take extra percussion to do her job. She shares the point that many might have heard in the news that "COVID-19 isn't affecting children in a way that it is impacting adults, but also it is making extremely difficult to know if a child we are saving is asymptomatic or not, so we have to be really careful when helping kids." Because of the nature of her role as a flight rescue, every call she is dispatched for is a critical life saving mission. Either from a hospital to another hospital, or an immediate transport to a hospital to save a life.
Like many medical and heath care professionals across the country, Kirsten commits to compassion and care to keep her drive. Although Kirsten shares that the hospital is fortunate that there is a good supply of PPE available to protect her, her role as a flight nurse and the need to use a helmet or communication equipment sometime prevent her from being able to use and secure the masks or protection gear.
Meet Kirsten "Davis" Commins, player in DGLFFL, and a Gay Bowl champion of the Denver Mile High Club team. But today, she is flying in helicopters or planes saving children's lives. She works as a flight nurse for the Children's Hospital Colorado emergency response team and is dispatched by flight to save lives to the most gravely injured or ill children. In this new normal of COVID-19 era, Kirsten has had to take extra percussion to do her job. She shares the point that many might have heard in the news that "COVID-19 isn't affecting children in a way that it is impacting adults, but also it is making extremely difficult to know if a child we are saving is asymptomatic or not, so we have to be really careful when helping kids." Because of the nature of her role as a flight rescue, every call she is dispatched for is a critical life saving mission. Either from a hospital to another hospital, or an immediate transport to a hospital to save a life.
Like many medical and heath care professionals across the country, Kirsten commits to compassion and care to keep her drive. Although Kirsten shares that the hospital is fortunate that there is a good supply of PPE available to protect her, her role as a flight nurse and the need to use a helmet or communication equipment sometime prevent her from being able to use and secure the masks or protection gear.
"I have to be extra careful when I come home and make sure I wish my uniform right away and make sure I am not contaminating anything else." Because she works with children from across the state that interact with various family members of all ages, she realizes the risk and have to always make sure she is doing her best to protecting herself while saving the children's lives "I see kids at one of their most darkest or scariest moments of their lives, and it's my job to do my best to make sure they receive the best and fastest care possible."
She says that she is always have to put things into perspectives. "You make the situation what you can. People are going through a lot of stressors, health, job loss, and so many major things in life." She says she can apply what she learns from her job in her everyday life. She says that looking at her family or friends, she can emphasize with their situations in a way that can support them in ways she has been trained to do. She also shows empathy to folks that need it in a way that can be helpful during this difficult time.
Because she has been trained through crisis moments, she says she can understand what people are going through. She says that people being stressed or scared, is a valid feeling, and being able to talk about things with their family or chosen family is extremely important. She shared "Stay strong, we are all doing the best we can, everyone’s dealing with someone, and please reach out to friends and family."
Kirsten said that the DGLFFL and MHC family has been an extremely important part of her life, and even though the Spring 2020 season was cancelled, she is still able to keep in touch thought virtual happy hours, or virtual bingo, right from her living room in pajamas and sweats.
Kirsten became slightly more emotional when she shared that in February when her engagement with her fiancé ended, it was her MHC family that came to her to support her during some of her most difficult moments. "Going through a lot in life, and going through a heartbreak, and my DGLFFL family has supported me more than ever, and the connection and the unite has been one of the greatest support ever." She reflects that she is extraordinary grateful to have the DGLFFL in her life, and arguably one of the most important aspects of her life at the moment.
She like everyone misses playing flag football with her DGLFFL family, but she realizes the importance of having patience and staying as safe as she possibly can during this process. She shared “Stay patience, the only way we can put an end to this is with social distancing. It might not be you that gets sick, but you have to think about all the people around you.”
Speaking of all the people around you, Kirsten, your MHC friends wanted to share some thought with you.
Kirsten, thank you for all of your dedication to keeping so many children and their families safe and responding to their emergencies. Our health care workers are our heroes during this time and we couldn't thank you enough for your dedication and care during this really important time.
Thank you.
Compete. Connect. Unite.
If you would like to recognize a Health Care Professional or someone that is making a big difference in the community in the next 2 Minute Drill, please contact otiz@ngffl.com and we would be happy to highlight their amazing work.
