the healing power of nurses

In honor of National Nurses Month, we're singing the praises of these health care heroes.

- Sara Gaynes Levy 

This choir of nurses spreads joy.
Keshia Jaboin, MANHASSET, NY.
& Winnie Mele, PLAINVIEW, NY

In the fall of 2020, not long after the COVID-19 pandemic began, Northwell Health sent out an email asking if any of its 18,000 nurses would be interested in singing for a virtual benefit concert to raise money and awareness around the nursing shortage and lift their spirits during this trying time. Keshia (eighth nurse from left), a women's health nurse at North Shore University Hospital, and Winnie (seventh nurse from left), director of perioperative services at Plainview Hospital, submitted application videos and were chosen from hundreds to join what became an 18-person choir. Its initial perforhance caught national attention, and the group went on to appear on season 16 of America's Got Talent (making it to the finale!) as well as open for the band Train and even sing at the White House. (Nowadays they continue to work full-time on the front lines and get together for special-occasion performances.) "People said our music helped them, but we helped each other through a dark time," says Keshia. Winnie agrees: "Singing felt like an opportunity to talk about the pain we were in during the pandemic and how we have to find our resilience." (The choir's repertoire reflects this, from Rachel Platten's "Stand By You" to Andy Grammer's "Don't Give Up on Me.") Winnie adds: "This was so much more impactful than I ever could have imagined."

You can help nurses through Northwell Health Foundation's Nurse Support Fund: support.northwell.edu/nursesweek.