We know not all heroes wear capes. Some wear scrubs, some wear uniforms, some wear aprons. And many now wear a form of personal protective equipment as they try to keep themselves and others safe while standing on the frontlines of the novel coronavirus.
Greater Cincinnati’s essential workers vary from doctors and nurses to grocery workers and teachers.
The Enquirer’s photojournalists set out to highlight some of the region’s frontline heroes as they battle the pandemic.
Leah Scott
Leah Scott, firefighter and EMT, has been with the Cincinnati Fire Department for 24 years. Scott works at the CFD Station 18 at Lunken Airport. Scott said since the novel coronavirus pandemic it takes longer to go out on runs because of all the extra PPE required and the time it takes to clean gear.
Kelsey Norton
Kelsey Norton, 28, is an ICU nurse at Christ Hospital. Working the front line during the new coronavirus pandemic has meant no visitors for the critically ill, whether they are battling COVID-19 or something else. On March 30, Kelsey received donated prayer shawls to be used with these patients to give them some comfort, along with the touch of a nurses hand.
Orlando King
Orlando King, a Cincinnati Metro bus driver, sits for a portrait on April 17 at Metro's Queensgate garage in Cincinnati. "Our role is very important. Without it, essential workers would have a hard time to get to their positions to help the public through this pandemic."
Kim Ritter and Sam Washam
Sisters Kim Ritter, left, and Sam Washam are nurses in the emergency room at Good Samaritan Hospital. The sisters expressed their appreciation for all the generous food donations health care workers have received from the community. Washam said that the new coronavirus pandemic doesn't make her afraid to go to work, but, "I'm scared of bringing it home."
Nedra Ward
Cincinnati police officer Nedra Ward is an investigator with District 4, specializing in domestic violence cases. Working during the new coronavirus pandemic, Ward said: "I don't let it have power over me. I do everything I can to say healthy." She said she wears a mask now whenever she's outside and, once home, she changes in the garage and sprays everything down, including her vehicle. "It's an adjustment."
Randy Wulker
Randy Wulker, owner of Wulker Plumbing, is photographed inside of the supply area of his Loveland office. Wulker and his staff are taking extra precautions when doing their work, including wearing masks, booties, gloves and constantly using sanitizer. They have also started no-contact calls. "We are seeing an increase in emergency calls right now because more people are at their homes and using their systems three times more than they normally would," Wulker said.
Front line workers at Christ Hospital
Front-line workers at Christ Hospital include (from left): Ricky Williams, SPD supervisor; Geraldine Vehr, MD, medical staff president; Isaac Nelson, RN; Bridget McIntyre, RN; Hilary Raidt, pharmacy; and Christian Jones, tech 2, central service.
Dianna Pleasant
Dianna Pleasant, of Colerain Township, is a third- and fourth-grade social studies teacher at Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional. She has been teaching her students virtually since the Ohio stay-at-home order and said she misses seeing her students daily. “I miss that interaction with them, and they miss us. It’s hard for them because school is structure for them, it’s the time they get to socialize with their friends. They are close with their teachers and they know what their expectations are and right now, for some of them it’s a struggle, they don’t have that interaction with their peers, their teachers.”
Beth Weishaupt
Beth Weishaupt is an acute nurse practitioner at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Weishaupt is on a team of doctors and nurses which takes care of ICU patients. "I feel we are all in this storm together but as a health care provider, we are on a different boat. We have to face the storm when others have the option to hide from it."
Dusty Vinup
Dusty Vinup stepped into the role of chief of the Harlan Township Fire Department a little more than a year ago. Vinup says that while EMS calls are down during the new coronavirus pandemic, the runs that his all-volunteer department are going on have been more serious. "I'm more worried about our volunteers getting it outside of here, because here we are in full PPE and putting masks on patients and taking a lot of extra precaution."
Becca Neichter
Becca Neichter, a nurse manager in the emergency department at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, stands for a portrait outside of her home in St. Bernard on April 15. Neichter, who is pregnant with twins, has worked at Children's since 2009. "We are all holding our breath right now," she said when asked about what it feels like to be a nurse right now.
Zack Burns
Zack Burns, farm grower, stands in front of hydroponically grown Cheramy tomatoes, a variety of cherry tomatoes, on April 9 at the 80 Acres Farms Vine farm facility in Hamilton. "We've been working behind the scenes. Food production in general is something people never think about. This is a clutch time for food production. We feel that responsibility; people need to eat and people need to supply them that food. That's obviously a big responsibility, a lot of pressure is on us, kinda like a super hero, so we need to come through in the clutch."
Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams has worked in sterile processing at Christ Hospital for 36 years. He talked about being on the front lines during the new coronavirus pandemic April 10. "We are always exposed to germs and viruses. This virus ( because of the uncertainty) is always on your mind, but it’s part of my job. At the end of the day, you just do what you’ve been trained to do, and pray.”
Dale Ann Wight
Dale Ann Wight, cashier, stands at her registrar at Kroger on April 7 in Newport. "I'm just here to do my job. I don't think I'm anything special, but it's scary. It's still scary."
Gary Leybman
As part of the essential workforce, owner of The Pickled Pig Gary Leybman keeps the restaurant going and employees paid through the COVID-19 pandemic by offering fermented vegetables, smoked meats and more via takeout.
Barb Hayden
Barb Hayden has been an environmental services technician at Good Samaritan Hospital for 32 years. Working during the new coronavirus pandemic, she said, "It's scary. But when you have doctors and nurses helping, it's easier." She added: "We work together as a family. It helps take the edge off from being scared."
Morgan Koranda
Morgan Koranda is director of nursing at the Welcome House of Northern Kentucky, serving the homeless population. "While it has always been the privilege to assist vulnerable populations in their health journeys, we are now more than ever able to see the knowledge and services that we provide making a difference in safeguarding the health of the people in our community. These seemingly small services of checking temperatures of passersby, assisting people experiencing homelessness into shelter from the pandemic, and helping people interpret and implement CDC medical guidelines has the potential to make life or death differences in our city's vulnerable homeless population."
Joel McDonald
Joel McDonald works at the Rumpke landfill in Colerain Township. "I do take pride in my route, keeping it clean and the customers happy," he said. "Some people you need to make exceptions for because they have bigger families. There are quite a few customers that have my personal cell phone."
Dan and Doug Junker
Dan and Doug Junker are brothers that have both worked at Skyline Chili since 1978. They can both now be found at the Montgomery location where Doug serves as the manager and Dan, who has since retired, still comes to work part-time. Skyline Chili has taken precautions during this time of the new coronavirus pandemic, closing its dining rooms and going to drive-thru only. "I really miss seeing our guests. It's been nice to see the friendly faces through the drive-thru though. Everyone has been so generous," Doug said.
Roger Grammar
Roger Grammar is the director of Supply Chain at Christ Hospital. "COVID-19 is on everyone's mind almost constantly," he said. "The unknown of who has it and whom may be a carrier and not know about it. While performing our tasks we think about what if I get the virus or what if I carry this home with me. We try to prevent the spread of the virus with our protective equipment and the numerous times a day we wash our hands. I follow the guidelines for PPE because I do not want to carry the virus home to my wife, who recently experienced pulmonary embolisms, nor to my children or grandchildren. One of our granddaughters has asthma and I worry about the transmission of the virus to her and the others."
Dan Hicks
Dan Hicks has been the meat manager at Lehr's Prime Market, in Milford, for three and a half years. Lehr's Prime Market has stepped up precautions to keep employees and guests healthy during the coronavirus pandemic. A sanitation service comes every Monday morning providing a deep cleaning that lasts all week, and employees also sanitize surfaces throughout the day. The market has also been doing a lot of curbside orders. "Our meat is fresh from local farms and cut all day long, but we just have the best customers, they have been very patient and calm during this time."
Montgomery Police and Fire Department
Some of the police and fire first responders are shown from the Montgomery police and fire departments on April 7. Due to the pandemic, protocols are changing regularly. Shown are (from left): Assistant Police Chief Greg Vonden Benken, Assistant Fire Chief Ben Shapiro, Lt. Patrick Morgan, FF/Medic Jacob Quinn, Lt. Jason Brice, FF/EMT Zak King, FF/Medic Jeff Moore, FF/Medic Dane Williams, FF/Medic Ali Miller-Bultman and SRO Paul Payne.
Officer Paul Payne can usually be found at Sycamore High School, where he's been a resource officer for the past 19 years of his 32 years in law enforcement. But these days, with the new coronavirus pandemic, he's back on patrol, working 12-hour shifts. "It's like working on Christmas morning. It's very quiet." For Ali Miller-Bultman, her dad is currently going through cancer treatment, so she can't see him or care for him, and that's hard, she said. "This is the job I chose to do. I don't want to expose my family. I have to think of that."
Geraldine Vehr
Geraldine Vehr is president of the medical staff at Christ Hospital. "I signed up for this when I entered the profession of medicine. I am not afraid. I have provided direct care to COVID-19 patients, and a longtime dear patient of mine did not survive. I am grateful for palliative care services and pastoral care staff who have been providing guidance for patients, family and staff. I encourage others to not be afraid, to adhere to the directives from the state of Ohio and local governments, and trust in science and scientists that we will understand this virus, as the story unfolds. We have good people working on this. Be optimistic and somehow embrace (from 6 feet) the front-line workers you know ... they need your support."
Hilary Raidt
Hilary Raidt is an ICU clinical pharmacist at Christ Hospital. "It is inspiring to work with a team of people who are doing everything they can to get the community through this. It's the unpredictability that's the most jarring, seeing otherwise healthy people get really sick and, despite the best care, they don't always improve. You feel helpless. The new normal is coming in through the garage, stripping down, taking a shower, and sanitizing everything I touch before I see my two young kids. This literally hits close to home, and you just want everyone you know to be as careful as possible, to 'respect' the disease."
Isaac Nelson
Isaac Nelson is an RN at Christ Hospital. "For me to be working the front line of this pandemic, I feel like it is my call to duty during my lifetime and I feel it is my obligation to be out here serving my community with the expertise I have. To be out here on the front lines feels a bit ominous at times and the whole situation has some level of ambiguity to it. I just try to bring as much gratitude and positivity as I can to my co-workers and particularly to the patients. To go to work and then come home during this time isn't too much different from normal because I work with infectious diseases on a daily basis but has definitely made me much more precautionary and observant of how I am handling myself at work and as I go home; especially since my wife and I are both nurses. Thankfully, Cincinnati has not been affected as much as some other areas and hopefully will not, but either way I will continue to be out here fighting the good fight."
Shelly Stark
Shelly Stark, a nurse practitioner in the Heart Failure and Transplant Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, says she is not on the front line like many of her friends and colleagues, but she works with patients with compromised immune systems. She describes how scary it is for her patients, who are at risk. "Every day when I'm getting ready for work, I have a pit in my stomach. I don't know what each day will bring."
Bridget McIntyre
Bridget McIntyre, RN, is a nurse at Christ Hospital. Being a front-line worker during the new coronavirus pandemic has introduced many new challenges for workers and their families. "Being an RN at times can be extremely challenging but is also very rewarding. This is true now more than ever. Shifts can be physically and emotionally draining, yet so fulfilling knowing I am making a difference in my patients' lives. Protocols are always changing. Constantly putting on, taking off, and cleaning PPE with extreme caution. Trying to protect myself by clustering care and limiting my exposure, but also provide my lonely, afraid patients with the emotional support that they need. It's hard to find a balance. It's heartbreaking. I worry about accidentally bringing it home and someone at home becoming sick. I would be devastated if someone got it because of me."
Christian Jones
Christian Jones is technician at Christ Hospital. "Being a frontline worker during the coronavirus is without a doubt one of the most critical challenges I have ever been faced with. The required attention to detail with every action and interaction taken throughout the work day and beyond is especially taxing, but critical to the health and safety of my family and community. To be a responsible health care worker during any time, but this time especially, there is a specific obligation to personal protection and precautions. This obligation has moved to the forefront of my life and is the single most important aspect of my life. I am up for the challenge!"
Colleen and Dave Feldman
Colleen and Dave Feldman are both nurses with Mercy Health. The couple have added concerns since they are both front-line workers and have children at home during the new coronavirus pandemic. In order to fit the N95 mask properly, Dave shaved his beard for the first time in 16 years. Their children had never seen their dad without facial hair. Colleen said, "I'm proud to be a nurse. It's a career that I love. I never thought I'd be in a place where I'd feel scared to go to work. I'm scared because I'm a mother and I want my family to be safe. I'll continue going to work, but I just want everyone else to stay home and do the right thing."
Bernard Staples
Bernard Staples, 55, a state-tested nursing assistant since March 2001, works at Hospice of Cincinnati Blue Ash. "I try not to go in fear, because my wife is person who is high risk, so I try to be very, very careful. You don't know who has it (COVID-19). I'm not even thinking about changing my career, this is in my heart. It's a privilege to take care of others who cannot take care of themselves."
Amanda Anoai
Amanda Anoai is a charge nurse at Hospice of Cincinnati Blue Ash. “I have seen the staff answering each other’s call lights. The STNAs (state-tested nursing assistant) are running to other rooms they haven’t been assigned to. Everyone’s working together to pick up where these other things are obviously affected. Everyone’s taking on more than they typically do. It takes true teamwork to get through that. I think every single person working in health care at this very moment is an angel. Our paths and our journeys all led us to this moment."
Clint Hutson
Dr. Clint Hutson is the director of hospitalist at TriHealth Good Samaritan Hospital, located in Clifton. "I know I speak for everyone when I say we greatly appreciate the thoughts and well-wishes from the community as we try to combat this pandemic. Working through this outbreak has been trying and stressful. Initially, we were faced with complete uncertainty — uncertainty for our patients, our hospital/health system and for ourselves and our partners. We mobilized early and prepared for the worst. As patients began to roll in we faced a struggle of keeping ourselves safe, maximizing the use of limited PPE supplies and dealing with a heretofore unknown disease. The stress was clear and affected all that worked on the front lines. We tried to focus on pushing reason and logic rather than panic and speculation, and for the most part, we were successful in doing that. Through the efforts of all in the community with social distancing and adhering to the shelter in place order, the curve was flattened and the magnitude of the surge was less than anticipated. We seem to be shedding more light on this every day and walking toward normalcy and a return to the beauty of the mundane and typical."
Anjum Najeed
Dr. Anjum Najeed, with TriHealth Good Samaritan Hospital, prepares to enter a patient's room on the COVID floor on Friday, April 24. Personal protection equipment (PPE) includes: eye glasses or goggles, face shield, double masks, two gowns and two pairs of gloves. "It was scary initially. But now we have a special unit and we wear full protection gear. We have to protect ourselves. We have to protect other patients." She added: "Anybody can get this, so I'm extra careful. So far, so good."