uk respiratory therapist shelby thorton

covid19 hero

We want to spotlight a forgotten hero..

Fighting this pandemic on the front-line day in and out... she's not a doctor...not a nurse but her job is every bit as important in caring for covid-19 patients.

Abc 36's christy bollinger has the story with u-k respiratory therapist..

Shelby martin.

A wife, a mother of three... family is important to shelby martin... and now, her family...is growing.

"it's just really hard watching people go through what they're going through.

It's hard on us because we're kind of like their family right now, cause their families can't be here with them."

Martin is one of the only people allowed inside the rooms of patients with covid 19.

She's there...when even their families can't be...because the disease is so easily spread.

She's keeping people alive...helping them breathe...and fight fear.

"either by holding their hand, praying with them or even ya know just making them feel better about what's going on."

In her 20 year career as a respiratory therapist at u-k healthcare...she has never seen anything like this.

People with even mild cases of covid- 19 struggle to breathe.

Cnn gasping can you think of anything scarier than having to gasp for breath?

Martin says it's vital she monitors patients constantly.

"i bring them in the room, get it ready, assist the doctor in intubation and then manage the ventilator."

Her hard work and stress don't stop at the hospital..

She continues to work at home... to keep her family safe...her kids can't even rush to hug her anymore when she walks through the door.

"before i go in my house i take off everything out in the garage even my shoes and then i go straight to the shower and no body comes and hugs me or talks to me until i do that."

Her husband, is also fighting this disease on the frontlines... as a lexington firefighter...conce rned just as healthcare workers are about protective equipment.

Almost ten firefighters in lexington have tested positive...more than a dozen are in quarantine.

"it's been very stressful at our house but i have a great support system.

We pray a lot and we're gonna get through this together."

You can hear in her voice how difficult this time is.

"some days are better than others."

But she knows how important her role is..

And she wants others to, too.

"you have no idea how much this means to me that you're spotlighting respiratory therapists.

I think sometimes we get forgotten.

We're shoulder to shoulder with the doctors and the nurses all the time."

What keeps her going..

Is knowing this is her purpose.

"i was meant to be here, to be with these patients and my coworkers through all this."

I'm christy bollinger, abc 36 news..

We've had a big drop in temperatures.... will the chill stick around for our