Second-Hand Account Leads to Top-Notch Lessons
8/14/2020 11:08:00 AM | Field Hockey, Student Athlete, Features, Flight 45, Intellectual Development
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
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Olivia Perrone's sister Gianna has been fearlessly working as a registered nurse on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Why?
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Because she loves what she does. All the while, Olivia has been admiring as a proud sister, and learning and growing – simply by hearing about the pandemic from first-hand accounts.
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"Gianna has actually been working on COVID floors – people who test positive and all isolate on one floor," said Olivia. "With every room she goes in, she has to change her suit, mask and gloves."
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Protocols have continued when Gianna, who's five years older than Olivia, gets home.
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"My parents have to leave a towel and change of clothes in our garage so instead of coming in through the front door, she has to come in through the garage, change there, put a towel on and hop directly in the shower," said Olivia. "It's definitely been nerve-wracking and scary."
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Despite the fear and anxiety surrounding the pandemic, there have been silver linings to come out of the last few months for Olivia and the Perrone family.
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One of the biggest has been just that… family. Â
"I am very appreciative of our family time," said Olivia. "My sister and I are close, but this whole quarantine has just been my mom, dad, sister and I. I've taken advantage of hanging out with her. We've had sleepovers in one room, even though our rooms are very close to each other."
Â
An obvious negative aspect of the pandemic has been amplified anxiety. Anyone going out in public can have an understandable fear of contracting COVID-19, but for the family of medical professionals, it's that times ten.
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Olivia's mother Dawn also works in a hospital as a neonatal nurse.
Â
"My mom works with babies who are premature," said Olivia. "She could come in contact with COVID if a mom who's about to give birth tests positive."
Â
Through multiple accounts, Olivia has gained a unique perspective of the pandemic.
Â
"I get to hear all the stories my mom and sister come home with," she said. "Through hearing first-hand accounts, I know this is a serious situation and I'm following all the rules that are put in place."
Â
The Perrones live in New Jersey, which was hit extremely hard near the beginning of the pandemic in March, April and May.
Â
"It was a lot scarier then," said Olivia. "My sister has said it's been dying down at the hospital. They shut down two of their ICUs, so a lot of people aren't having to be ventilated. I can't speak for every place, but she says she can get a fresh breath of air now and then."
Â
Taking a breath and being complacent are two different things; no one in the Perrone family is doing the latter.
Â
What the Perrones are doing is learning from these last few months. Take Olivia as an example, a biology major at Lehigh who looks to get into a medical field…
Â
But a different type of medicine.
Â
"I've really wanted to be a veterinarian since I was little," said Olivia. "I've always had a thing for animals and thought it was a great path for me. I can't see myself sitting behind a desk, so wanted to find something I love.
Â
"I feel like I'm following in my mom and sister's footsteps, but choosing my own path at the same time."
Â
Olivia has seen the passion and love from her mom and sister about what they do.
Â
They wouldn't put themselves in such risky situations in a hospital if they didn't, and that is inspiring Olivia to follow her passions.
Â
"Everyone can like what they do, but the key is really loving it," said Olivia. "Once it doesn't feel like a job and it starts becoming something you love to do, I feel that's when people are most successful and live their best life."
Â
Perrone is living a successful life, both as a student and athlete at Lehigh, and has seen the value of passion and love for something with her field hockey team.
Â
"The mindset of Lehigh field hockey has definitely changed over the years," said Perrone. "Coach Dallmeyer has done a great job recruiting girls who have the same mindset of loving the game, wanting to win and wanting to keep getting better no matter what stands in our way."
Â
Not much stands in the way of medical professionals like the Perrones. Like Olivia's sister and mom, Perrone doesn't lament when hardship hits.
Â
"The unknown surrounding the pandemic is definitely scary," said Olivia. "The future holds a lot of mysteries that we don't know the answers to yet. It's important to keep an open mindset and stay positive through hard times."
Â
Whether she's a sister, daughter, teammate or friend, Olivia Perrone just keeps pushing forward, appreciates what she has and lives her best life.
Â
"Don't take anything for granted," she said. "Take every day with a grain of salt and don't waste it because really you never know what could be taken away in the blink of an eye."
Â
Olivia Perrone's sister Gianna has been fearlessly working as a registered nurse on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Â
Why?
Â
Because she loves what she does. All the while, Olivia has been admiring as a proud sister, and learning and growing – simply by hearing about the pandemic from first-hand accounts.
Â
"Gianna has actually been working on COVID floors – people who test positive and all isolate on one floor," said Olivia. "With every room she goes in, she has to change her suit, mask and gloves."
Â
Protocols have continued when Gianna, who's five years older than Olivia, gets home.
Â
"My parents have to leave a towel and change of clothes in our garage so instead of coming in through the front door, she has to come in through the garage, change there, put a towel on and hop directly in the shower," said Olivia. "It's definitely been nerve-wracking and scary."
Â
Despite the fear and anxiety surrounding the pandemic, there have been silver linings to come out of the last few months for Olivia and the Perrone family.
Â
One of the biggest has been just that… family. Â
"I am very appreciative of our family time," said Olivia. "My sister and I are close, but this whole quarantine has just been my mom, dad, sister and I. I've taken advantage of hanging out with her. We've had sleepovers in one room, even though our rooms are very close to each other."
Â
An obvious negative aspect of the pandemic has been amplified anxiety. Anyone going out in public can have an understandable fear of contracting COVID-19, but for the family of medical professionals, it's that times ten.
Â
Olivia's mother Dawn also works in a hospital as a neonatal nurse.
Â
"My mom works with babies who are premature," said Olivia. "She could come in contact with COVID if a mom who's about to give birth tests positive."
Â
Through multiple accounts, Olivia has gained a unique perspective of the pandemic.
Â
"I get to hear all the stories my mom and sister come home with," she said. "Through hearing first-hand accounts, I know this is a serious situation and I'm following all the rules that are put in place."
Â
The Perrones live in New Jersey, which was hit extremely hard near the beginning of the pandemic in March, April and May.
Â
"It was a lot scarier then," said Olivia. "My sister has said it's been dying down at the hospital. They shut down two of their ICUs, so a lot of people aren't having to be ventilated. I can't speak for every place, but she says she can get a fresh breath of air now and then."
Â
Taking a breath and being complacent are two different things; no one in the Perrone family is doing the latter.
Â
What the Perrones are doing is learning from these last few months. Take Olivia as an example, a biology major at Lehigh who looks to get into a medical field…
Â
But a different type of medicine.
Â
"I've really wanted to be a veterinarian since I was little," said Olivia. "I've always had a thing for animals and thought it was a great path for me. I can't see myself sitting behind a desk, so wanted to find something I love.
Â
"I feel like I'm following in my mom and sister's footsteps, but choosing my own path at the same time."
Â
Olivia has seen the passion and love from her mom and sister about what they do.
Â
They wouldn't put themselves in such risky situations in a hospital if they didn't, and that is inspiring Olivia to follow her passions.
Â
"Everyone can like what they do, but the key is really loving it," said Olivia. "Once it doesn't feel like a job and it starts becoming something you love to do, I feel that's when people are most successful and live their best life."
 Perrone is living a successful life, both as a student and athlete at Lehigh, and has seen the value of passion and love for something with her field hockey team.
Â
"The mindset of Lehigh field hockey has definitely changed over the years," said Perrone. "Coach Dallmeyer has done a great job recruiting girls who have the same mindset of loving the game, wanting to win and wanting to keep getting better no matter what stands in our way."
Â
Not much stands in the way of medical professionals like the Perrones. Like Olivia's sister and mom, Perrone doesn't lament when hardship hits.
Â
"The unknown surrounding the pandemic is definitely scary," said Olivia. "The future holds a lot of mysteries that we don't know the answers to yet. It's important to keep an open mindset and stay positive through hard times."
Â
Whether she's a sister, daughter, teammate or friend, Olivia Perrone just keeps pushing forward, appreciates what she has and lives her best life.
Â
"Don't take anything for granted," she said. "Take every day with a grain of salt and don't waste it because really you never know what could be taken away in the blink of an eye."
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