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3 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,January 7,2021 w aterloochronicle.ca Without a doubt, some of the biggest heroes of 2020 have been the health- care workers and front line staff who have worked tirelessly to assist those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. We reached out to the local hospitals to ask staff from doctors and nurses, to technicians and office administrators two ques- tions: 1. What do you wish for in 2021? and 2. What is the first thing you will do when the virus is over? Here are some of the responses from staff at St. Mary's General Hospital. CHRISTINA JOHANNES, ADMINISTRATIVE & DATA ASSISTANT 1. My wish for 2021 is to be able to hug and spend time with my family and friends and the first thing I will do when the virus is over is book a trip! CRISTINA FUNES, REGISTERED NURSE, CARDIAC SURGERY 1. I wish the pandemic can end and we can re- turn to our previous life- style. 2. The first thing I will do once this virus ends is to hug my family, friends and colleagues and cele- brate our freedom! SHELLEY ASPDEN SMGH 1. My wish for 2021 would be for COVID to leave as fast as it arrived, that we stay healthy and are soon able to embrace the things we love to do, the things that make us happy. I am hopeful for fellow healthcare/front line workers to spend quality time with their families and no longer feel pressure or have that awful feeling in their stomach heading into work each day. I wish for the elderly to reunite with their loved ones and no longer feel alone or fear for their lives. I hope those suffering emotion- ally and financially find light at the end of this very dark tunnel. I look forward to 2021 bringing us back to some type of normalcy, whatever it may look like. 2. The first thing I will do when this virus is over is spend time with my parents who reside in New Brunswick. It was this time last year we were last together; when asking my dad what you would like for Christmas, his reply was "I just want to come to Ontario." JUSTIN KOVACS, MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST 1. For 2021 I wish for good health and happi- ness for my family, my fel- low front-line workers, and our community. Con- tinue to stay strong and resilient and thank you all for your support! 2. I plan to take my honeymoon to St. Lucia which got delayed due to COVID-19. It will be a well- deserved opportuni- ty to celebrate being new- lyweds with my beautiful wife, enjoy the change of scenery, and kick back and relax on a beach! AMBER WAGLER, REGISTERED NURSE, CRITICAL CARE 1. For 2021, I am looking forward to some new and exciting adventures. Once this virus is over I am going to hug my fami- ly! LYNNE RUTLEDGE, EXERCISE ASSISTANT, CARDIAC REHAB 1. That we would con- tinue to carry on some of the lessons learned from COVID like taking better care of the vulnerable in our communities. 2. Go and visit family who I have not been able to see in person for a long time! WENDY SCOULAR, OPERATING ROOM 1. My wish for 2021 is that all children, family and friends can hopefully return to what we remem- ber as normal life before COVID-19 arrived. Appre- ciating the little things we took for granted. 2. The first thing I will do when this virus is over is take a day off work and pay visits to all those spe- cial people around me and give them a tight hug and not let them go. It has been a long road but we are coming near the end. TRACEY OSTERMANN, SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE LEAD 1. I wish for me and my family to remain healthy and safe until we are all vaccinated and life can start returning to nor- mal. 2. Give my sisters a hug. GINA QUERING, REGISTERED NURSE, CRITICAL CARE ICU 1. I hope that the vacci- nation program is suc- cessful at controlling CO- VID-19 so that we can all socialize without fear, the kids can get back to school full-time, and businesses can open fully once again. 2. The first thing I will do is get rid of my face mask and then I will take a vacation with my fami- ly. I love to travel and ex- plore. I was planning a trip to Belize prior to CO- VID-19, so it would be great to book a flight and take that trip. HOLLY BYRNE, CLINICAL EDUCATOR 1. I wish for us all to have gratitude and appre- ciation for what we have and extend deep kindness to each other. 2. I will hug my mom, who lives in Mount Forest with my grandfather. I will also have my friend Sam over for a board games night. AMY MASSIE, RRT AIRWAY CLINIC 1. I wish for a safe, swift immunization program that brings us herd im- munity. 2. I am so fortunate to come from a large extend- ed family, that gathers annually in the summer, and on Boxing day. I look forward to hug- ging and celebrating with all my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. My Uncle Barry gives the best hugs! ADRIENNE RACHER, RRT AIRWAY CLINIC 1. Mass COVID vacci- nation and herd immuni- ty 2. Hug all my family, friends, neighbours, and co-workers KRISTINA HYDE 1. I wish for COVID to be over and gone forever! 2. The first thing I will do is have a dinner party! Food, drinks, hugs and celebrations! I can't wait! COMMUNITY COVID-19 HEALTHCARE HEROES WEIGH IN ON HOPES FOR 2021 Christina Johannes Shelley Aspden Wendy Scoular Tracey Ostermann Amy Massie Justin Kovacs 534 Hespeler Rd. cAMBriDGe (across from Starbucks) 519-624-9220 885 Glasgow St. KiTcHeNer (corner of Fischer-Hallman & Glasgow) 519-741-1233 • Eye Glasses • Prescription Sunglasses • Contact Lenses WE DirECt BiLL! See store for details Call for Appointment 3 for 1EYE EXAMS Book your eye exam with us and receive 1 free Anti-reflective/Scratch resistant Coating on a new eyeglass purchase