COEUR d’ALENE – For more than two years, healthcare workers have been on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19.
It took a toll then, and it still does today.
“It’s been hard for everybody,” Lindsey Etchison said. “Everybody’s tired. We’re still going, but it’s been tough.”
That’s why Saturday morning’s Healthcare Heroes event at The Coeur d’Alene Resort was a welcome boost for Kootenai Health employees and family.
“It feels special. We kind of get our time that’s been set aside for us,” said Etchison, who works in the neonatal intensive care unit at Kootenai Health. “For everyone to come together, it helps.”
Etchison, husband Brian and their children, Jane and Miles, attended the gathering, where they enjoyed a visit with Santa Claus, hot chocolate and viewing of entries to the 34th annual Festival of Trees.
About 1,000 people signed up for Healthcare Heroes. It was a chance to relax in a quiet environment, spend time with colleagues outside of work and kick off the holidays.
The children seemed especially in the Christmas spirit.
“As you can see, there are a number of sugary, happy kids,” said Cara Nielsen, president of the Kootenai Health Foundation.
Nielsen said the foundation has hosted celebrations for Kootenai Health staff in the past, but not since COVID-19 arrived in North Idaho in early 2020.
With a chance to bring back Healthcare Heroes this year, they did. The entire Kootenai health staff—doctors, nurses, administrators and housekeeping—were invited.
“We want to give a special thanks to every Kootenai Health employee for all the hard work they do every day,” Nielsen said.
Tolli Willhite, a 20-year employee of Kootenai Health, works in communications and marketing. She appreciated the efforts of the foundation.
“It means a lot that they included the families today,” she said. “It’s fun to see people outside of work.”
Willhite brought her family and they enjoyed hot chocolate and trees. There was just one problem.
“I can’t quite get my teenage sons to sit with Santa, but I’m still working on it,” she said with a laugh.
Justin Schorzman is a service manager with Kootenai Health and has worked there for three years.
“I think it’s amazing that we have a day for our staff, our employees, to come and enjoy the sights, the sounds, Santa,” he said. “All the hard work we’ve done, it’s nice to feel appreciated.”
