The word 'Hope' can be seen on a balcony at the Melfort Hospital. (Facebook/Laura Alexander)

By Angie Rolheiser

Hope movement

Spreading hope at the Melfort Hospital

Nov 23, 2020 | 11:31 AM

Spreading light in the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic around Saskatchewan is the goal for a staff member at the Melfort Hospital.

Licensed Practical Nurse, Laura Alexander decided to use Christmas Lights to spell the word ‘Hope’ on a balcony at the hospital.

“If you don’t have anything else, hope will carry you through,” Alexander said. “I thought that the word hope was just very fitting for the times that we are in right now.”

Hope was a topic of conversation at a meeting of the Emotions Anonymous group that Alexander attends in Melfort which inspired her to use the word to uplift co-workers as well as visitors and the community.

“When we were hit with the COVID crisis in March it was very overwhelming and scary and it was terrifying, honestly,” Alexander said. “As the months went on and we were able to keep the slope of the curve minimal we started to feel better about things.”

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The last few weeks of numbers soaring in the province and the community, healthcare workers were hit with reality once again according to Alexander.

“This is bad, this is not getting better and it is getting worse,” Alexander said. “The challenges that it has caused for our staff, friends and families, it has been really tough.”

Visitor limitations is one of those challenges such as labouring mothers having less support people.

The staff at the hospital are a very close-knit group and Alexander wanted to uplift morale for her work family as the situation continues to put a strain on healthcare workers.

“It all seems so doom and gloom some days, so I just really wanted to do something positive,” Alexander said.

Alexander braved the cold last week and created the display with three strands of lights, zip ties, and wire. Since the lights were turned on she has been blown away by the response and impact it had on co-workers and visitors alike.

Laura Alexander braves the cold to install lights in effort to spread positivity in the community. (Facebook/Saskatchewan Health Authority)

“I’m glad I did it and wasn’t worried about what people would think and that the message was very clear,” Alexander said.

She is encouraging other hospitals, care facilities, and residents in Saskatchewan to share banners, signs, lights, and actions and take up this ‘Hope’ movement.

“Wouldn’t it be cool if instead of hearts in windows, you have hope in windows over the Christmas holidays,” Alexander said.

Christmas was part of the inspiration for the lights too because of new restrictions for private gatherings in the home being at five and possibly not being able to see family.

“We can get through this and we are in this together,” she said.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser