It's been nearly five years since we first met nurse Emily Davidson. Then, she was known as Emily Wallace.
She had just been promoted to assistant nurse manager at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital at the start of the pandemic. Davidson kept a video diary, chronicling her experience on the frontlines.
"Just the sheer amount of patients that we are seeing coming through the doors has been unbelievable in New York City," Davidson remarked in a video diary from April 2020.
"Being a new leader within COVID was quite difficult. You know, navigating the team members looking to you for help and support during that time and, you know, myself not even sure where it was going to take us or what was really going to happen," Davidson said.
Through the difficulties, Davidson kept a positive attitude.
"This was a challenge that was presented my way, of course, presented the way of millions across the world. And, you know, it was just a challenge that I kind of accepted with open arms," Davidson said.
Davidson now works in quality management at Lenox Hill. She says the pandemic changed how she relates to patients.
"I think that it's made me certainly more empathetic, and it's opened my eyes to sort of challenges that people might not see on the surface. Everybody kind of has a story in their personal life and something going on that we might not see or take at face value," Davidson added.
Dr. Shi-Wen Lee, chairman of the Emergency Medicine Department at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, shares similar experiences.
When NY1 met him in May 2020, he was the vice chairman of the emergency department at the hospital, preparing the hospital for the impending COVID surge. After working weeks straight, Lee contracted the virus.
"From that point on, I was going to be alone. And that was a scary moment," he said in an interview with NY1 in May 2020.
"It was a very unsettling situation. Not much was known about COVID and I had concerns for myself, my family, also my colleagues and patients," Lee said.
It would be three weeks before Lee would return to work.
Jamaica Hospital hit its peak on April 14, 2020 -- with 230 confirmed COVID admissions. Like many other hospitals, Jamaica adapted quickly, shifting resources to accommodate the influx of patients. Thanks to a $150 million grant from the state, Jamaica Hospital is set to open a new emergency department in 2027.
"I believe that COVID has brought awareness to underserved communities and vulnerable patient populations, so the healthcare infrastructure has made tremendous changes, including our new ED that's being built currently," Lee said.
As hospitals, like Jamaica, implement changes to better prepare for future emergencies, Lee reflects on the lasting impact of the pandemic.
"I've learned that you can never take anything for granted. Life is short, life is beautiful, and we're here for a reason, and we'll continue to be here and serve our patients," he said.