Remembering Every Patient: Hometown Hero

NEW CITY, NY — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented times. Here at Patch, we're helping to recognize these everyday heroes.

This submission comes from Colleen Leavy Sweet, who nominated her daughter Lauren Sweet. Lauren is an EMT, and her mom had some very precise instructions for Patch:

Don’t just recognize her or anyone else for the wrong reasons.

Please show how the first responders change outside of their home and leave clothes and boots in a garage and spray and disinfect every single item. Please show how they don’t hug or touch until they wipe every doorknob and light switch and shower for 20 minutes with antibacterial soap.

Please show how no one is allowed in the car they use, and it’s constantly being hit with antibacterial spray and wipes.

Please show that that have not lived a safe or normal life since March.

Please show how they have to see the obituaries in the paper of patients they were rushing to the hospital.

Please remember that these First Responders take home with them the face of every single patient they care for in their memory.

Her mom said that Lauren refused job offers and enrolled in the state emergency medical technician program right after graduating from RU with a major in biology and a minor in psychology.

"Lauren selected service over money," her mom said. "She has always been driven to serve."

Starting work as an EMT she expected the usual, then the job changed.

"The COVID pandemic was not a thought at the time she selected to pursue becoming a first responder," her mom said. "After COVID, and she couldn’t return home normally and was disinfecting every day ... I asked if she knew that this is what her job would become, would she have taken the other offers. Lauren said 'No.' Actually said she would not change a thing. She honestly loves that she has helped, continues to help and has made a difference."

Patch: What’s one thing you want everyone to know about your hero?

Colleen Leavy Sweet: Lauren remembers every person. She is one of those people that will hold the hand, speak for those that can not speak for themselves and do anything she can for those in need. The hardest part has been knowing the changing and disinfecting that has become the daily normal routine.

She wears more than one mask, but always has a ‘fun looking’ one on top. A cat mask or a grandma-made mask because she says as a big sister she always wants to make sure if she has a child patient, or a child of a parent that’s a patient, she wants them to see a fun friendly face.

Thank you for all that you do, Lauren!

>> Do YOU have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here.