Man, this is a tough one to write. I'm still trying to process it, to be honest. You know, you see news reports every day, and a lot of it is just... information. But then sometimes, something hits different, you know? Something that feels way too close to home, or just plain heartbreaking. And that's exactly how I felt when I heard the news about Nikki Bass.
Fox 13 News, my go-to for what's happening around here, they announced it. It popped up on my phone as a notification, and I just stared at it for a minute, hoping I'd misread. But nope, it was right there: Nikki Bass, dead at 35 from COVID-19. Thirty-five. That's practically my age, man. It just hits different when it's someone so young, someone who had so much life left to live. It's a gut punch, you know?
Aaron Messmer was the one who reported on it, and you could hear it in his voice, even through the TV, that this wasn't just another story for him. It's not just a statistic. It's a person. A real person who was here one day, and gone the next, all because of this damn virus. She died right here in Tampa, too. It makes it all feel even more real, more immediate. Like it could be anyone. Like it is anyone, and it just happened to be Nikki this time.
And then I found out she was a nurse. A nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital right here in Tampa. Can you even imagine? She was out there, on the front lines, day in and day out, taking care of people, putting her own health at risk to help others. That's a hero, plain and simple. She was dedicating her life to saving lives, and then this virus took hers. It's just so incredibly unfair. It makes you angry, you know? Angry that this is still happening, angry that we're still losing people like Nikki. She was probably working tirelessly, seeing the worst of it, and then she became a victim herself.
It's just a tragic reminder, if we even needed one, that this thing is still out there, and it's still dangerous. It's not just something that happens to "other people" or "old people." It's real, and it's taking people who are young, vibrant, and essential. Nikki Bass was only 35. She had a whole career ahead of her, a whole life. Her family and friends are going through something I can only imagine is excruciating right now.
My heart just goes out to her family, her friends, her colleagues at St. Joe's. They lost someone special, someone who made a difference. And the rest of us lost a dedicated healthcare worker, someone who was actively making our community better and safer. It's a huge loss, and it's one that shouldn't have happened. Rest in peace, Nikki Bass. Your work and your sacrifice won't be forgotten. This one really hurts.
No comments:
Post a Comment