In Worcester, a massive show of support for health care at just the right time

WORCESTER, Mass. — For intensive care nurse Elizabeth Phelan, and others at UMass Memorial Health Care, its one day at a time right now.

“We keep telling ourselves this is not how it’s going to be forever, this will all end eventually, and we will get back to normal eventually, we just have to take it day by day,” said Phelan.

In response to the fighting spirit of health care employees like Phelan, more than 30 cities and towns joined forces to help with the tough days in a massive show of support.

They organized a drive-by that sent everyone dashing to the windows.

“Yesterday, the parade, it was during a change-of-shift, so we all got to see it," said Phelan. “It went on and on forever. It brought tears to our eyes.”

State police, fire departments, local police and more joined the parade.

“They just kept coming, it was amazing…we all had chills,” said Phelan.

Chief Clanford Pierce, Chief of Police at UMass Medical School, helped put it together.

“Even tow truck companies -- this is something when they heard about it, they wanted to send multiple resources. Everybody was excited about it. They just wanted to help,” said Chief Pierce.

For Phelan and other front line health care workers, it came at just the right time as there has been a increase in COVID-19 patients this week.

“It really boosted our morale, because the last couple of days, something changed a bit, increased…the patients are really sick but then we saw that and it just boosted our moods – it was really nice,” said Phelan.

For Chief Pierce, the big parade was just a small way to say thanks for all the health care workers do.

“That really means a lot, we had no idea," Chief Pierce said. “The timing of this effected them so much. I’m so happy they were appreciative and it gave them a boost, anything else we can do to support them we certainly will."

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