Our Frontline Family

Our Frontline Family

As the COVID-19 pandemic has rearranged our concepts of normalcy, safety, and possibly even our values, there has been a constant influx of support and appreciation for those fighting on the frontlines. Before the virus became knowingly widespread in the United States, we learned of the cheering Italians and French people, for example, lauding the work of their hospital workers from their balconies. These heartwarming stories have been mirrored throughout our own weeks of quarantine and social distancing.

The fact is, many people risk their health and well-being each day to take care of those actively suffering from COVID-19, responding to emergencies, and helping ensure food gets to our tables, to name a few. They are not staying home to take care of all of us, and for that, we are immeasurably grateful.

Like so many other organizations, Coldwell Banker Caine is particularly thankful for those in our own family who serve on this frontline. They are the spouses, children, and siblings of our agents and staff. They are our heroes and we celebrate them each Friday on our social media channels.

We have asked them to share more about their experiences on the frontlines, and a few have provided their thoughts below. Above all, we are grateful for their service and hopeful for their safety throughout the remainder of the fight.

 

Jake Moffitt, Firefighter & EMT
Son of Sandy Moffitt, Agent

Jake, In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your family as you work on the frontlines to address the various needs of your community?
The pandemic has not really affected our family life. With Carly being a nurse and myself being a firefighter, our work schedules have not changed at all. The pandemic if anything has just made us realize how bad we took for granted the simple things in life like eating out and socializing with friends on a daily basis.

Sandy, In what ways has having a frontline worker in your family during the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your lives and how you interact in the community?
The hardest part of this pandemic is not getting to see the children like we normally do. We normally try and do dinner once a week or so, and of course, that’s not happening now. Jake is our only child that is local, and we do not have any family here – so, that is tough sometimes. As parents, we will always worry about their safety in their chosen careers. We continue to pray for their safety, and now, their health as well. We have minimized our grocery shopping trip to every 10 days. I am used to working from home – just having our home office to myself. My husband has taken over the home office.  He is on week six from working from home. I continue to go out and show homes to buyers. Lots of wipes, gloves, shoe covers, and masks have been worn. And of course, making sure buyers are healthy and well! We all hand sanitize before and after seeing a home at the door. We have made daily exercise part of our routine and have actually lost a few pounds – so that is good!  Together, we will get through this.

 

Miranda Boan, Nurse
Wife of Blair Boan, Agent

Miranda, In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your family as you work on the frontlines to address the various needs of your community?
I must say having to be on a 14-day quarantine from my family hurt the most. Although I know my job allows me to help the people of our community, it was tough to have to be away from my family for so long. 

Blair, In what ways has having a frontline worker in your family during the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your lives and how you interact in the community?
Pretty much the same thing above. Having to keep the kids day and night (24 hours a day) for 14 days and having to be without my wife for that long honestly is something we probably have not experienced in close to ten years. And of course with all the safety precautions not being able to lean on babysitters or school. But I will say, I’ve decided to look on the bright side of this thing. When will the next time be that my wife and I have the chance to stay at home with our kids and just enjoy each other? Playing games with each other and learning new things with the kids has been phenomenal. Putting work aside, it really has been a blessing, not a burden, to be home with my family. 

 

Robert Burkins, Safety Specialist
Husband of Lorry Houston-Burkins, Experience Manager

Robert, In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your family as you work on the frontlines to address the various needs of your community?
With me being a part of the Greenville County District emergency response team, I am considered an essential employee.  I continue to physically monitor the 20 plus schools that I’m responsible for, which increases my exposure to COVID-19. I’m very conscious of this because of Lorry’s compromised immune system. I take extra precautions to make sure that I don’t expose her to the virus.

Lorry, In what ways has having a frontline worker in your family during the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your lives and how you interact in the community?
I am concerned about Robert’s health as he goes out into the community. Fortunately, his contact with other people is very limited in his current role. He, of course, is more concerned about me and my health because of my immune system, so he has been very cautious when comes home. The law enforcement community will always have a special place in our hearts, so we think about and pray for them and all frontline workers often as they continue to make sure that our community is safe.

 

Alex Holsonback, Physician’s Assistant
Husband of Marielena Holsonback, Relocation Coordinator

Alex, In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your family as you work on the frontlines to address the various needs of your community?
Working in the Emergency Room as a provider, you’re exposed to COVID-19 every shift. This doesn’t only affect you personally, but it also affects your loved ones. From changing your clothes outside of your home daily to wiping down all your belongings, just to ensure you decrease your loved one’s exposure. It also affects your mental state by personally seeing individuals with COVID-19. Every patient I encounter, I have to treat them as if they have COVID-19 and constantly hide behind personal protective equipment. I love to connect with my patients on a personal level, but I lose that connection behind layers of equipment. I also lose that connection with families of the patient being treated. I am constantly on the phone with family members outside in their car just to ensure them that I am doing everything I can to care for their loved ones. It constantly bothers me that families are unable to see my true concerns and emotions for their loved ones. COVID-19 has changed the entire flow of medicine and the normality of life, but as a frontline worker, I understand my role and will continue to stand by the sick and care for them every step of the way.

Marielena, In what ways has having a frontline worker in your family during the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your lives and how you interact in the community?
With Alex being a frontline worker it has deeply impacted me and both of our families. We refrain from seeing our families because we do not want to take the chance of exposing our loved ones. I am unable to see my family in Charleston until this completely passes because my dad specifically has a weak immune system. I take extra precautions with Alex’s scrubs by immediately washing it with hot water and placing his shoes in a plastic container. COVID-19 has greatly changed our day to day life, but we continue to stay positive and know that better days are ahead.

 

Claire Hurst Epps, Nurse
Sister of Melissa Hurst, Agent

Claire, in what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your family as you work on the frontlines to address the various needs of your community?
Being on the Frontline of COVID-19 is incredibly tough in that people, even your own family, are scared to be around you. That has been really tough, as I’m very close with my family. Another thing that has been incredibly difficult is that families cannot visit or be with their critically ill family members. It makes me sad for the patients.

Melissa, In what ways has having a frontline worker in your family during the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your lives and how you interact in the community? 
Having my sister be on the frontline of COVID-19 has been hard. She’s told me that the halls of the hospital are empty of visitors, and I feel sadness for her critically ill patients who can’t see their loved ones. I can’t imagine. It has also been hard in that Claire and I are close and enjoy hanging out together, going for coffee dates, etc. I haven’t seen her as often as usual, and conversations have been mostly through FaceTime. I think my biggest take away from all this is to not take things for granted, always be kind, and be grateful.

 

Dr. James Scardo, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist
Father of Katie Reid, Agent

Dr. Scardo, In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your family as you work on the frontlines to address the various needs of your community?
COVID has prevented me and my wife from seeing and hugging our children and grandson. It hurts to know we can’t get that time back, but I’m grateful that my family is safe and someday soon we will again have our togetherness.

Katie, In what ways has having a frontline worker in your family during the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your lives and how you interact in the community?
Having a frontline family member certainly brought an immediate lens of gravity to my perspective. This pandemic didn’t feel like a distant news story. It certainly felt more personal. And with that, I’ve felt a whirlwind of emotions. I’m immensely proud and constantly in awe of the work my dad does with his calm and humble manner, but I cannot wait to hug him tight, share a meal around a table again, and just spend time together as a family – whenever that day may come. FaceTime is great, but I certainly miss the real deal.

 

Paige Littlefield, Director of Nursing
Daughter of Evon and Steve Hammett, Agents

Paige, In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your family as you work on the frontlines to address the various needs of your community?
Working on the frontline during this COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging yet rewarding. It has brought me closer to my immediate family and helped us to know what really matters. Keeping not only my family at home safe but my extended family at Pacifica Senior Living has been a top priority. Finding new ways to connect while remaining safe has been a rewarding and true learning experience. It is heartwarming to see loved ones visiting our Pacifica residents at the windows and interacting with notes or face time calls. Witnessing this daily and then knowing I get to see my family when I return home every day has made me appreciate our time together.

Evon, In what ways has having a frontline worker in your family during the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your lives and how you interact in the community?
It has made us appreciate what she does even more than ever. Knowing that she is working every day in an environment that could affect her own personal health is a little scary, but we understand that is just a part of her job. It could also turn into a situation in which she might have to stay there and quarantine with her patients. This puts us all on alert that we also may need to step up to the plate to care for her children and take over her responsibilities at home. If that should happen, we are here for her.

 

Luann Lester, BSN, RN, Clinical Research Nurse
Wife of C. Victor Lester, Agent

Luann, In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your family as you work on the frontlines to address the various needs of your community?
Each and every one of us has been impacted by this pandemic in many different ways. Healthcare workers are constantly learning new procedures in doing everyday tasks in ways to care for our patients while minimizing contact in potentially spreading the virus, to determining the most effective treatment options that are available at this time. I think about coming home from work every day and hope that I have not contracted the virus, and that worry is always there in hoping that I don’t give it to my family. From a nursing perspective, my job is to take care of those whom I don’t know but to keep my family whom I love safe from harm, as well. It is this uncertainty that we all may feel, and learning to have more patience and compassion for those living with me and those around me while I am out caring for others, has given me a greater perspective of gratitude and appreciation for my family and for being a nurse during these unprecedented times.  

Victor, In what ways has having a frontline worker in your family during the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your lives and how you interact in the community?
My personal impact has been since we had just come back from vacation mid-March from Antigua during the start of the pandemic, my wife had to self-quarantine for two weeks before she could go back to work. Of course, being married to a medical professional, it made it impossible for me to go back to work, as she decided that I should take those same precautions within days of her doing so. Having a medical background myself, I found it very difficult to argue the point. Since then, we take almost every precaution including a Haz-mat approach at the door to decontaminate prior to entering our home. We found this to be the best practice to protect our family and our patients/clients! 

 

Melissa Helton, EMT
Daughter of Renade Helton, Agent

Melissa, In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your family as you work on the frontlines to address the various needs of your community?
My biggest concern is picking the virus up at work from a patient and then bringing it home to my three children and mom. It has been a big adjustment to have to do my job with all the protective equipment and protocols that we now have to use. 

Renade, In what ways has having a frontline worker in your family during the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted your lives and how you interact in the community?
I am at home having to help with e-learning with Melissa’s three children – two of which are in elementary school and one is in high school. Most of my day is helping with their school work. It takes 3 to 4 hours a day per child. It has been a huge adjustment for us all to learn this e-learning and not being able to go and do things. Melissa does all the grocery shopping since she is already being exposed to help eliminate our exposure. Due to this, I am unable to see the rest of my grandchildren and family.

 

Coldwell Banker Caine hopes you stay safe and well during this time. To learn more about our COVID-19 policies and updates, click here. #CBCaine #HomeTogether