They say heroes wear capes. Although Michelle Clements wears scrubs and she spends most of her time at work taking care of others -- not to mention she's also a mom, grandmother and student.
"Hahaha what time does my day start? Usually around 4 a.m. By the time I'm finished with studies, it's around 9 or 10 at night," said Clements, a UNC NICU nurse.
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Clements has been working hard to make sure all the NICU babies and their families feel safe. Because of the pandemic, access is limited in the NICU, which can be especially hard on families.
"Were having to pay particular attention to the emotional support of our families. They're coming in, it's never an easy experience to come into a NICU, but it's particularly more scary for families when they're faced with a pandemic," Clements said.
Thankfully NICU nurses provide that comfort when family members can't be there. Although Clements loves what she does, she says it can be overwhelming at times.
"At the same time you know they're dealing with stress. They have spouses that have been laid off. They have children. They work all night, then they go home and they now become a teacher to their children," Clements said.
These are difficult times for healthcare workers, but they have each other to lean on and the rest of us to cheer them on.
"I'm just one person, and I'm surrounded by so many people. I hope that what I've shared today will let you know that there are a lot of us out there grateful for the opportunity to serve and were hoping that this will end," Clements said.
Clements says she sees all the messages -- all the thank you messages to healthcare workers and that is what keeps her going.