Health care worker at DCU field hospital shares her own experience battling COVID-19

WORCESTER, Mass. — Michelle Shabo just came off a nightshift at the DCU field hospital in Worcester.

“The DCU center is exclusively coronavirus patients […] they have turned the whole convention center into a giant negative pressure room,” Shabo said.

It was just weeks ago that the fourth-year medical student wasn’t wearing scrubs, but a patient’s gown.

“Being a patient, a coronavirus patient, for me was a little bit different,” she said. “I was actually in the hospital because of the severity of my illness.”

At 28-years old, Shabo faced the fear and knew the facts of what she was up against.

“I really was truly scared that I wasn’t going to make it out of the hospital alive,” she said.

But she did make it out alive thanks to the incredible care she received at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

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“I cannot speak highly [enough] of the people that took care of me like one of their own at UMass, which is where I go to school,” Shabo said. “The nurses and doctors were just so incredible and had this ‘we are in this together’ mentality.”

With time to heal and reflect, her next decision came with clarity.

“It makes the most sense for me to go to the DCU,” Shabo said.

Help others heal and bring her experience with her; out of the darkness came a transformative experience.

“Now I understand that fear of feeling like you’re not getting enough air,” she said. “I am so grateful to be alive.”

A light that has now made her career path even brighter.

“I also feel really fortunate to pursue my life’s passion and it just so happens my life’s passion is taking care of people,” Shabo said.

There are four things Shabo hopes people will remember that she believes are so important:

• Wash your hands
• Don’t touch your face
• Wear a mask in public
• And, if you must be in public, maintain a social distance

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RESOURCES:

- Massachusetts Coronavirus Information

- Boston Coronavirus Information

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