LI Coronavirus Heroes: Man's ER Nursing Career Begins In Pandemic

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — As Long Islanders practice social distancing and make personal sacrifices as part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, many look to those on the front lines as inspiration. Patch will be highlighting Long Islanders who are going above and beyond in their work and community to help during the health crisis.

There's a saying that says true heroes rush toward — not away from — danger. And that's just what Eric Abbott Jr. of Hampton Bays did, beginning his nursing career just as coronavirus cases began to explode across Suffolk County.

Eric's mom, Deborah Abbott, said she wanted to nominate her son as her frontline hero. "He is the oldest of my four children and is an amazing big brother and son," she told Patch.

Eric is a volunteer EMT with the Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance Corp. and also recently started working at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital as a nurse assistant in the emergency department.

"His first day of training at the hospital was the first week of the local shutdown," she said. "He dove in fully committed to learning and helping in any way he could. In a situation where some others just starting out may have thrown in the towel and walked away, Eric chose to fully commit to helping because that is who he is, and what he loves to do."

Two years ago when she had spinal surgery, her son, Deborah said, stepped up and took care of her.

"We knew then he would do amazing in the healthcare field," she said. "Eric would like to someday be a nurse and follow in the footsteps of his Grandma Mary, who passed away from breast cancer in 2013. We are all very proud of Eric, his dedication, strong ethics and commitment to what he loves."

Her son always tells her, Abbott said, that he and his fellow HBVAC members and ER staff are a team. "He tells us how exhausted they all are — but they never give up and never give in. They are a team and they support and inspire each other."

On his Facebook page, Eric wrote about his experience, working on the front lines during unprecedented times: "Over the last few weeks this pandemic has made itself very known here in the United States and right here in my hometown. As many know, I am a volunteer EMT and recently became a nursing assistant at the hospital. Both jobs I absolutely love. I love them because I love helping people."

"This virus is scary. This virus is strong."

Coronavirus, he wrote, has brought an immense amount of stress to all EMTs, paramedics, aides, nurses, doctors and everyone in healthcare, no matter their title.

"We’re all here for the same purpose and that’s to help people," he said. "This virus is scary. This virus is strong. After a long shift working at the hospital, anyone who works there is exhausted. Everyone who rides on an ambulance is exhausted."

But, he said: "Every day we all wake up and continue on. We go to work or hop in that ambulance not knowing what the day is going to bring. But we go and we work . . . to take care of everyone. We try our hardest to save everyone. We give it our all for our entire shift, no matter what."

The bonds forged, he said, are forever. "Everyone in EMS is a family. Everyone in the hospital is a family. We all have each other’s backs. In our most stressful times we buckle down to finish the job we signed up for," Eric said.

To those not fighting the battle, Eric had a message: "Please thank anyone you know in healthcare, whether that be in a hospital or on the road in an ambulance, for the service they’re doing. Thank them for putting everyone else’s life before their own. Thank them for caring for all their patients and giving them the best care possible. To all my friends and family out there in healthcare, thank you. We are family and my phone is always on for anyone who needs to talk. Now more than ever we need each other. We are all feeling the stress of this pandemic.”