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Nurse battling leukemia left overwhelmed after her co-workers donated their sick leaves to her

The nurse, who had been taking care of the patients, was unable to work, but her co-workers had a greater purpose in mind.

BY TIYASA BISWAS

PUBLISHED 19 HOURS AGO

Female colleague consoling young nurse at hospital corridor. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Pekic)

Grinding at work day after day, leaves and off-days are a crucial part of any worker’s week. Most workers look forward to that day, to unwind from the stress and exhaustion. But when a nurse was battling cancer alone, her co-workers supported her by donating their personal leaves and sick days to help her recover while getting paid. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lorie Carafelli-Fleming was struggling with a battle of her own. She was fighting for her life following her cancer diagnosis, but her co-workers did not leave her side, as reported by ABC7 News.

Female doctor in scrubs consulting with senior woman. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | MoMo Productions)

While healthcare workers risked their lives for the safety of the general public, the world selfishly turned a blind eye to the needs of these heroes. Similarly, Carafelli-Fleming was regularly missing work because she was undergoing leukemia treatments. As a nurse, she was always at the patients’ beck and call. However, that changed when she herself fell ill. Her friends and colleagues encouraged her for a medical checkup. Little did she know her life would take a different route from there.

A small group of diverse medical professionals. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | FatCamera)

She was diagnosed with leukemia and began receiving treatments, forcing her to take time off work. However, the nurse was worried about how she would support herself in such a situation, with the pandemic and a lockdown world in the backdrop. Eventually, her co-workers at the healthcare facility caught up with the news and decided to help in whatever little way they could. In their pursuit, the co-workers donated their personal time off to help Carafelli-Fleming recover comfortably without losing her job. As they say, time is money.

Woman in wheelchair receives support from co-workers. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Halfpoint Images)

The nurse acknowledged her co-workers’ efforts as a blessing. “I'm unable to work, so having the ability to still get paid is a blessing, and they really, truly are a blessing for me." Stunned by the outpouring of love and support for Carafelli-Flemming, her company, Impact Health Care, also chipped in. Co-worker Molly Buck told the news outlet, "(They) made some special arrangements for her, for extra time, some different insurance coverage. They've been very generous as well because they were just blown away with the outpouring of love from the other nurses and co-workers at the company who donated their time." Likewise, another co-worker, Jane Hanna, weighed in with a deeper insight about the feat that touched people’s hearts.

Caring for the entire world during the devastating pandemic, Hanna noted that helping one of their own was more of an “opportunity” than a task. More so, it would help everyone in the long run. “The sooner we get her back on her feet and up and running, the better that helps all of us as well as take care of our patients," Hanna said. Kindness exists, and the co-workers’ compassion for Carafelli-Fleming proves it. "I'm very appreciative of the kindness and the team that I work with. I'm very lucky, I'm a very lucky person," the nurse added. She hoped to bounce back and return to taking care of patients within six to eight months. A 2021 working paper by the WHO claimed that over 83,000 healthcare workers died due to the pandemic, per PubMed Central.