A Regina man, working as a volunteer nurse in New York City during COVID-19, says he is physically, mentally and spiritually damaged from the experience.

Anil Gorania left Regina in 2008, but still considers the Queen City to be his home. He now lives in Oregon, but he felt compelled to offer his services in New York City because he knew how overwhelmed front-line workers would be.

Gorania says he realized right from the first hours of his first shift just what he had gotten himself into. He says dealing with COVID-19 is something that has taken its toll on him, leaving him mentally, physically, and spiritually damaged. Gorania says he goes to work each day with a lot of uncertainty just hoping to ease the suffering for both patients and family.

He says there is no doubt as to what the worst part of the job is; it’s when you lose a patient and have to talk to the family. Gorania says its hard, whether its the first one or the hundredth one.

Gorania says he goes to work each day not certain of what lies ahead even though the picture is improving. He says that creates stress and turmoil and, if you think about it too much, you get sick to your stomach a little.

While the curve is starting to flatten, New York City has seen over 203-thousand cases of COVID-19 with over 16-thousand deaths. Gorania feels he has about another month in him before he will have to leave.

[ckrm june 2 2020]