NORTH NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Thousands of healthcare workers put their lives on the line every day fighting this pandemic.
One of those nurses is Shakeya Bean. The North Nashville native is not only fighting the COVID-19 pandemic but she's also dealing with the aftermath of the tornado.
Bean works in the urology department at Vanderbilt Medical Center but for the last few weeks she's been volunteering as a nurse at the COVID-19 testing sites.
"In the beginning I was working nonstop 10 to 12 hour days testing people because we wanted to test as many people as possible," Bean said.
Bean tells me she didn’t think twice about volunteering despite going through her own personal hardships. Bean's childhood home in North Nashville was hit by the tornado. She shares the home with her parents, brother and 7-year-old daughter.
"There was a great sense of shock value like wow this really changed my neighborhood," Bean explains, "we had some roof damage, our fence was torn up, and we had no power for a couple of weeks. We've been fortunate enough to stay at a hotel."
Bean admits there are moments of worry and uncertainty but her passion for helping others far outweighs them all.
"It's also nice that in the back of your mind you’re thinking I’m helping this person so it makes it all worth it," Bean said.
Bean and her family have been able to return to their North Nashville home earlier this week and are now waiting for repairs.
