Dr. Lorna Breen who works in the emergency room of the NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital died by #suicide this week. It was a piece of shocking news as the doctor has been tending to #COVID-19 patients and was so dedicated to fulfilling her duties even if it was risky.
In fact, she caught the #virus herself but recovered. Her father who is also a #doctor told The New York Times that after recovering from the #coronavirus infection, she returned to the E.R. just a week and a half later. It was said that since it was a risky situation, her family decided to intervene to convince her to stay home and brought her to their house in Charlottesville, Virginia where she took her life.
Now, her sister, Jennifer Feist and her husband Corey, recently appeared on “Today Show” to talk about her life and death. She stressed that the stressful working conditions in the E.R. as a frontline worker in this time of #pandemic played a big part in her sister’s decision to end her life.
Feist further said that since her sister was also infected by #COVID-19, she believes that the #virus “altered” her brain that resulted for Breen to make such an extreme decision.
“She had COVID. And I believe that it altered her brain, and then she went back to the most horrific, unimaginable conditions,” Feist told show host Savannah Guthrie when asked if Breen’s work condition in the hospital was strenuous. “And for somebody whose life’s calling is helping people, and she just couldn’t help enough people. And the combination was just untenable.”
Feist went on to say that her sister worked more than 12 hours per shift in a surrounding that Breen described as Armageddon-like because of the massive number of people who are sick and they don’t have enough equipment to tend to them all. She also witnessed many deaths at the height of the #COVID-19 #pandemic and Breen felt bad that she was not able to help everyone.
Feist said that her sister told her, “There are so many sick people everywhere. I can’t leave. Nobody’s leaving. I have to stay and help.”
Because she can’t stop working and her workplace is always hectic, Breen’s family thinks that her #mentalhealth was affected. For speaking out to the public about her sister, Guthrie said that she hopes that health officials will support the #mental and physical well-being of frontliners and other #healthcareworkers who work to save people from the #pandemic.
“She couldn’t stop working, and she certainly couldn’t tell anybody she was struggling,” Feist said. “And that needs to be a conversation that changes. People need to be able to say they’re suffering and to take a break.”
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Doctors test hospital staff with flu-like symptoms for #coronavirus (#COVID-19) in set-up tents to triage possible #COVID-19 patients outside before they enter the main Emergency department area at St. Barnabas hospital in the Bronx on March 24, 2020 in New York City. New York City has about a third of the nation’s confirmed #coronavirus cases, making it the center of the outbreak in the #UnitedStates.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
