For the past 11 years, Natalia Carrasco, 40, has worked as a celebrity makeup artist for clients including John Legend and “Real Housewives of New York” star Leah McSweeney. But when the pandemic struck, the resident of East Williamsburg lost his job and was short of money, so he took a job as a receptionist at one of the most controlled hospitals in New York City. Now, he is more grateful and wants to return to his old career.
When the lockout starts in March, every make-up job that I have queued is canceled within five days. At first, I felt, “It will be okay, I will use my savings.” Then, things got serious and I wondered how I would pay the bills.
I was on Facebook one day and saw this agency looking for people to help with COVID at Elmhurst Hospital. At that time, I was ready for anything, so I applied for the job and got it.
On my first day, April 3, I saw people carrying corpses and I felt tremendous pain in my stomach and chest. I had to go to the bathroom and cry a little because I never thought I had to go through this stress and fear in my work.
It made me think of all the beautiful messages I used to say by saying ‘You made my day’ after doing someone’s makeup and how lucky I am to have the opportunity I have. My life was filled with positivity.
Stephen Yang
At the hospital, I was assigned to answer phone calls at the main desk starting at 4 pm. until midnight. I get many calls from people trying to find the bodies of their family or friends. It was shocking to hear all the broken sounds and people in pain. I also have to make an overhead announcement at the hospital if someone has a cardiac arrest or has a heart attack or other life-threatening event. If I say something wrong, it’s really life or death – and it’s very stressful.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to have a job and I have no respect for health workers. But I often think to myself, went away from making beautiful and happy people surrounded by death and sadness. “I make here in a week what I make in a day.
The whole experience reminded me how much I loved and lost my old job and how I had to go back there. I am more grateful for that now than before. – As told to Melkorka Licea
Read more about the silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic.
