Lake Martin Community Hospital director of radiology Candice Chappell was full of nerves and high anxiety when the first coronavirus patient came through the doors. But she quickly realized these were just sick people who needed medical attention and weren’t so intimidating after all.

“The very first time I was dressing in my (personal protective equipment) it’s like putting on armor or something,” Chappell said. “I was just so overwhelmed with anxiety going into that patient’s room. But I get in there and I’m like, ‘This is just a precious person who is sick.’ All the anxiety was gone. It was like ripping off the Band-Aid.”

Amy Passaretti is a staff writer with the Alexander City Outlook.