During COVID-19, there have been many deaths and heartache surrounding the world’s first pandemic in 100 years. However, there is hope we can overcome this as vaccines are being distributed and death rates are decreasing. But we all owe the hard work and determination to help those in need to our healthcare workers, including physical therapist Cathy Calandro.
After getting her Bachelor of Science in physical therapy in 1994 at Louisiana State University (LSU) Medical Center and the University of New Orleans, Cathy continued her education in her later years as a physical therapist.
“I always knew it was going to be something medical,” Cathy said. “I loved helping people and always enjoyed sports as a kid, so strength training was an interest of mine.”
After a couple of years into her career at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, Calandro completed her certification and became wound-care certified and a certified lymphedema therapist. Cathy also loved having a vast group of career options with her education and certifications, as she could use therapy to help rehabilitate people and animals in various ways.
When asked how COVID-19 has affected her mentally, Cathy admitted she did experience depression and boredom. “My older patients became weaker and depressed because they were forced to stay home and not socialize,” she explained. Calandro also explained isolating from her parents and family had taken a toll on her mental health because humans are meant to interact with one another. “My dog and cat kept me company on nights where I could not see friends or visit my parents because of how scared I was of giving them the virus,” she admitted.
“I had to dress in a gown, two surgical masks, a face shield and shoe covers in order to see my patients at their homes or in the hospital,” Cathy explained. “It was very hot and uncomfortable when lifting patients to their beds, walking them to a chair or even talking to them in such heated conditions.”
When asked if she was ever afraid of the coronavirus, she simply replied no. Cathy explained she had always dealt with life-threatening diseases of patients while working in the hospital before the pandemic.
However, the deadly virus has put life into perspective for the physical therapist. “It has shown me that material things do not matter as much as family and interaction with others. You begin to appreciate people’s company, like something as simple as a conversation with the grocery clerk or the bank teller,” she said.
Since vaccines have come out, many people are skeptical because of the side effects stemming from it being in the lab for less than a year. Calandro said she will not get the vaccine for now, as she feels like it needs a little more time in the lab. “I want to wait longer until I feel like it is a little safer for someone with pre-existing conditions and my age group,” she explained.
While the vaccine is ready for distribution for ages 16 and up in April of 2021, Cathy warns those waiting for summer break that the pandemic is still ongoing. “Wear your mask, wash your hands, use sanitizer, isolate with family or close friends and stay away from high-risk family members,” she said. “Because while the world is moving forward with their lives, the virus is still alive and can be just as deadly as it was in 2020.”
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