COVID-19 Memorial installed on Eisenhower Health’s main campus
RANCHO MIRAGE —In a poignant and remarkable move, Eisenhower Health has installed a memorial on its main campus in Rancho Mirage to mark the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the community.
A public dedication ceremony will be scheduled in 2022.
There hasn’t been a global public health crisis of this magnitude for 100 years, and President and Chief Executive Officer Martin Massiello felt compelled to create a memorial to ensure we will never forget the hundreds of patients whom the hospital has cared for and lost.
The COVID-19 Memorial is also testament to the ones who, against all odds, survived; the entire Eisenhower staff, advanced practice providers, and physicians who labored day and night with hopes of saving lives and reuniting families with their loved ones isolated in the hospital; and, finally the community and our amazing donors who continue to provide us with immeasurable support.
In a prepared statement, Carl Enzor, an employee of Eisenhower Health said, “I’ve always felt valued as a nurse and as an individual. COVID challenged so many over the past 18+ months. So many of us ask ‘how are we going to let go of this experience and move on’. This new memorial is now a focal point to touch, a tangible reminder, a place where we recognize everyone who has been touched by this pandemic and a place for us all to leave the trauma and move on to provide the care we are so proud to offer.”
Following is an excerpt from Massiello’s message to staff:
“Take a moment if you will and visit the memorial. Spend a few minutes remembering the fear and anxiety, the uncertainty that we all experienced and finally the gratitude we all bear for the courage of our staff and physicians, the teamwork we experienced in battling the disease, and the hope for a better day forward. I personally want to thank you for the care and compassion you give each and every day to our patients and for each other. YOU are the stars that make Eisenhower Health the trusted, quality organization that we are for the entire Valley community.”
Image Sources
- COVID-19 Memorial: Eisenhower Health