Lanusei, a Christmas at work in the hospital: "Let's try to give a little more affection"

Working Christmas in the ward for dozens of doctors, nurses and oss of the Lanusei hospital. In the baby centre, although the activity of some departments is conditioned by the lack of personnel, essential services are ensured and two testimonies of those who will be on duty also on the occasion of the Nativity arrive from within.

«The first years», said Simonetta Tascedda, a nurse in the intensive care unit, «were tough having small children, but then you learn to organize yourself. Over time, the ward becomes a second home and when you work, your thoughts turn to the patient and his family who will not be able to experience a normal Christmas. We try to give that extra pinch of affection, precisely because we know that a day of celebration is experienced even more negatively by those who are ill. I think that part of our work» he adds «can be considered a mission, but we are amply repaid when a patient stops to greet us on the street or to thank us for the work done. We receive so much from a human point of view, perhaps even more than what we give».

Her colleague Vincenzo Podda, in service in the emergency room of Our Lady of Mercede, echoes her: «Working at Christmas is a situation that we have learned to manage over the years. It's sad to leave family at home, but it's our job and we know it's part of the game. We have to make sacrifices, but we try to compensate by organizing ourselves in time: for example, bringing forward the delivery of gifts to our children".

Under the tree, all the staff are united, in a complicated historical period. «It is said that for Christmas we are all kinder and perhaps unconsciously more attention is given, especially towards children. A smile towards them is a must, given that the little ones are deprived of a party they care a lot about like Christmas. It is obvious that whoever does this job has a particular predisposition to altruism, even if I don't feel like calling it a mission, because everything I do is part of my profession. There are not only renunciations, we receive many thanks to what we do. It is very gratifying to receive a smile or a thank you from the patient who has received our assistance, this repays us for the work done".