The sound of the clock resonates in the four corners of Joan's room. It was 5 o'clock in the morning and she had only two hours of sleep. It wasn't enough, but she had to wake in order to cook and attend the needs of her 10 years old daughter Scarlet, who is really excited on going to school. Joan cooked for Scarlet's lunch, and made some fresh pancakes for their breakfast. 6:30 am, an energetic ball of happiness hugged Joan, it was Scarlet smiling happily and is very excited on going to school. She was always an early riser, her mother no longer wakes her up, her own body clock wakes the little kid. "Mama, today were going to present our essay!" Scarlet excitedly tells her mom, "Really? What is it all about?" her mother replied. "It's about our dreams mama! and I wrote there that I want to be just like you! A doctor and a super mom! because you're my idol!" Joan was touched with her daughter's words, life wasn't perfect for Joan but when Scarlet came, everything was different, she was everything and Joan will do anything for Scarlet and for her happiness. Raising a kid alone while juggling a hectic work wasn't easy, but Scarlet was a good kid, and her mama was very proud of her. "Really you want to be like mama, a doctor?" Joan told her daughter while giggling, "Yes mama! I want to help the people who are very sick, because I want them to be healthy just like me, and enjoy life. I can play because I'm healthy so I wanted them to be healthy so they could also play, I'll have many playmates then!" Scarlet screaming excitedly while jumping, her mother was laughing along with her. After they had there daily morning rituals, Joan dropped Scarlet at school and went back home to continue her sleep, which she badly needs. It has been a busy week, and today was supposed to be her day off. Joan was surgeon in a well-known hospital in the country. Time passed so quickly, and Joan was awoken by the loud ring of her phone. She was about to pick it up, but it went off, it was from her best friend Cara. She didn't know what it was all about but she didn't bother to call back. She cleaned the house and ate lunch, she did a lot of things, and she wasn't aware that her phone was left at her room and there were a lot of missed calls already from different people. There was from Cara, the school and the hospital. Joan was done with everything that she was doing, and she opened the TV. The first thing that pops up was news, she was preparing some tea, when the news burst about a certain virus, she was alerted on that certain virus and quickly looked for her phone. She was rummaging because she couldn't see where her phone was, until she heard another ring, the sound was coming from her room, she quickly picked it up, it was from the hospital. She was asked if she was could go to the hospital because she was needed there. She looked on the phone log and there were a lot of missed call, she called the school and Teacher Lily answered "Collins speaking, how may I help you?" "Yes, this is Ms. Andrews, mother of Scarlet Andrews, Ms. Collins? I would like to ask about the reason why you called earlier, I'm sorry I wasn't able to answer your call" the teacher answered "Yes Ms. Andrews, I called because the kids were dismissed early today, and there was no one who fetch Scarlet today, that is why I called you, but you weren't available. A friend of yours who is also a parent, had Scarlet taken home Ms. Andrews, I believe it was Ms. Cara." Ms. Collins explained to her, "Thank you very much Ms. Collins" the call ended and she called her best friend, Cara quickly answered her call with a very loud voice "Where were you!?" "I'm sorry I was busy cleaning the house and I didn't hear the phone ring, is Scarlet with you?" "Yes, she is with me, I'm at home you could come by and pick her up. The school dismissed the kids early, you heard about the virus at least?" "Yes, I did, and the hospital just called me, they needed me there. Could you please look after Scarlet for me?" "I thought your off today? Please me careful, I heard the virus spread quickly, and that is why the kids were sent home early, we were advised to stay at home. I hope you should just stay at home Joan, I really do." "Sorry Cara, I would really want to stay at home but I need to help them, come on don't you trust your best friend, my daughter thinks of her mama as a super hero, so I'm going defeat this virus." Both of them giggled and said their goodbyes. The virus has spread rapidly, the authorities told the public to remain calm and stay at their homes only, but some still went outside despite of the danger of the virus. Joan drove as fast as she could to the hospital, there were a lot of patients already and everyone was busy. A doctor approached Joan, "Doctor Andrews, thank God you're here. We need you here." There were a lot of patients they dealt with, most of them were having a trouble breathing. Joan was too busy she forgot to call her daughter good night, she was taking a rest at a corner when someone approached her. It was an elderly woman; she was weak and her eyes were tired and sad. "Please doctor, take a look at my grandson, he is having a hard time breathing, he's too young to die. I don't have money, or any jewels, I can't pay you, but please help my grandson." the old lady pleaded for her help, she went to the boy and checked on him, Joan called some nurse to help the boy for it was having a difficult time breathing, the boy was having an asthma attack, and later on his status was stabilized. But Joan was more worried about the old lady, so she brought food for the boy and the old lady, because both of them looked hungry. She was talking to the boy and asked him a few questions, if hi is already fine. Joan asked the elder lady as well, but while talking to her, the old lady suddenly coughed, she was coughing very hard and Joan had no other choice but to help her sit properly, she noticed there were already blood in the hands of the old lady, so she rushed her with the help of the nurses. The old lady was already having hard time breathing, some lookers thought it was just another asthma attack, but Joan knew it wasn't any ordinary asthma attack. Later on, the old lady was diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), Joan was also informed that she might stay for a few days at the hospital and might be prohibited to go home, and will be checked if she along other doctors who attended different patients were positive of the virus. Few days passed, the stress and fatigue are building on Joan, she missed her little girl, everyone is now alert with the virus, it is now called COVID-19, and there was rapid increase on its death toll with just a span of days. Today, personnel with family waiting for them are allowed to see their loved ones, as long as there is a certain distance between them, and for them to wear the proper body suit and protective gears, Joan was excited to see her little girl again, it has been days since the last time she saw her. While waiting, Joan could feel her body weaken, she believed it was just because of the stress and fatigue, there was nothing wrong with her, as long as she can see her little girl, Scarlet again, she will be as good as new, and will be ready to go back to the battlefield. Far away she could already tell the girl wearing bright peach dress she gave on her 8th birthday was Scarlet. "Mama!" She couldn't stop the tears in her eyes as she recognized her little girl waving at her. "Hi baby, Mama's alright, today I'm fighting a lot of bad viruses in other people so that they could be healthy, so you should also look after yourself, and aunt Carol, okay? Do not ever forget to drink your vitamins." Joan couldn't stop the tears flowing from her eyes but she needs to stay strong, because her daughter is looking up at her "and also, don't forget to drink your milk before going to bed." they both uttered the same thing and that made them giggled. "Mama, I got three stars about my essay, my teacher told me that I will become a very good doctor soon just like you. When you defeat the evil monster will you come home mama?" Joan nodded and uttered I love you to her daughter for the last time because she wouldn't know when would be the next time. They were only given a limited time, in order to protect the safety of their families also. Joan and Scarlet open their arms as if giving a hug towards each other despite the distance. Another few day passed, it felt like as if the stress and fatigue is getting worse, and Joan was a little worried about it, she is starting to cough a little and when everything was bad, she wasn't expecting to receive a much worse news. She was once a doctor but now the tides were changed, Joan is now the patient, fighting her life against the deadly virus slowly killing her immune system, she is suffering from diseases brought by the virus. She couldn't accept the fact that her life would end here, and that she couldn't see her little girl on her prom, on her graduation, and on how she would achieve her dreams. Slowly life was slipping out of her, her fellow doctors helped her until her last breath, trying to revive her, but that was where her race ends. All she could ever think is her little girl, she is safe and she knows that her mother will always love her and will be with her in any path she takes. Joan fought hard to help other people recover along with other doctors. They sacrificed their own health and security in order to attend to the needs of the others. Few years passed, a strong and beautiful young lady stood at the podium, ready to start with her speech. "Long ago, I knew a brave soul, one who is ready to fight anything for anyone. Today, I stood in front of you because of that brave soul, I grew up from a strong independent woman, and one thing is for sure, she is not only a hero to many people, but she was my hero. I remember when I was 10 years old, I had an essay about what I want to become, I remembered I want to become just like her, my hero, and right at this moment I am making that happen, and I know for sure that right now my hero is with me, I love you mama."
This only shows the heroism of each doctors and medical practitioners of today, who are fighting everyday with different viruses and diseases in order to make the people healthy and safe. This is indeed one act of true sacrificial love in times of crisis, and they our modern heroes.
