Chicago’s Very Own heroes: Photos from the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic

Coronavirus

by: WGN Web Staff

Posted: / Updated:
  • Left to right nurses Kearney, DePasquale, Kapalko, Prichard, Wappel and Lenz
  • My niece works on covid floor 15W at northwestern memorial
  • My son-in-law, John Ripley is an RN at Heartland Medical Center in Marion, IL
  • Our daughter Lindsay works in the PICU at Lutheran General, and has also cared for COVID positive adults. We are so proud of her courage and dedication!
  • National Nurses Day
  • My OR nurse daughter at St Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet.
  • In the rain, Advocate Aurora Health at Home nurse Suzy Victoria, RN, arrives at a patient's home.
  • my daughter Ashley Davis a nurse at Northwestern hospital working in the covid unit in labor and delivery taking care of all the babies and Mommies 😍
  • National Nurses Day
  • Luke is an ICU Nurse working tirelessly during this pandemic.
  • Respiratory therapist, Weiss Hospital, Chicago IL.
  • Floating Nurses in Patriot's Place at Lovell FHCC. In the image to the left, from front to back: JJ Medina, BSN, RN (Med-Surg), Tess Anilao, BSN, RN (Med-Surg); Rowena Javier, BSN, RN (133-2B); Marie Irene Medina, BSN, RN (PACT); Suja Matthew, BSN RN (PACT); Mayflor Sta Ana, BSN RN (133-2B); Mary Bernardy, LPN; Patricia Rigg, LPN (PACT) They are some of the best I have the pleasure of working with !
  • My sister Kyle is an oncology nurse at Northwestern. Her niece and nephews are so proud of her!
  • Smiles are infectious and contagious and glad my patients have smiled when they see me smile through the PAPR
  • My daughter, Juliana Tu, is an RN at Mt. Sinai Hospital's Medical ICU
  • Home health nurses are on the frontlines in the COVID-19 pandemic, taking care of patients throughout our communities. Pictured are nurses from Advocate Aurora Health at Home, which is currently caring for approximately 400 COVID-19 patients across the Chicago area.
  • Kelly Nichols is an ICU Nurse at Glenoaks
  • This picture was taken before the pandemic. Nurse Junette Moseley is still working smart on the front lines. We love her so.
  • Nurse Cipolla answering the call, time and time again
  • Nurse hero Nicole
  • This is my neighbor and friend Patricia Wisniewski. Her common law husband has stage 4 colon cancer and she still works as a nurse. They have 4 kids and she is nothing short of a HERO! She deserves some recognition
  • To the Heroes at OSF Little Company of Mary Hospital from the Marines at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Thank YOU for your service!
  • Working on the front line, at Quest Diagnostics....
  • Members of staff from Rush Copley Medical Center take a break to watch a drive by parade put on by Aurora First Respondrts
  • Sonia Rivera/ Mercy Hospital/ House manager
  • Jessica works at St. Mary’s hospital as an ER nurse. She is a single mom who sacrifices everyday to protect us.
  • Photo of My wife, Amy Lichterman, NICU nurse at NW Prentice Women's Hosp.
  • Kat & Jes
  • My daughter Nicole a Nurse Practioner and son-in-law Firefighter Jon Schram. Amazing team! ❤️❤️
  • Night Shift RNs Med-Surg/Telemetry Unit Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL
  • Incredible Rush RNs helping out the Rush respiratory care department during covid-19 pandemic
  • My daughter Hailey is a nurse at Loyola medical center. She graduated last May and now is helping transplant patients as well as covid 19 patients. She is our hero, we are so proud of her!
  • Labor and delivery nurses at Illinois Masonic Medical Center
  • Rush University Medical Center Prone Team
  • Michelle Arroyo, APN & Jennifer Vazquez, APN at AMITA RMC
  • Frontline Staff at AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center Joliet stand with first responders from Joliet Fire and Police Departments
  • 5 North Searle Evanston Hospital front line heros
  • My son is heading off to work his shift at FreshThyme (Grocery Store) in Geneva, Illinois. Thank you for your service, John! We love you!
  • My daughter Emily, who is a RN at Ingalls Memorial Hospital.
  • MacNeal Emergency Dept
  • An Envision Unlimited Direct Support Professional (DSPs) wearing a mask donated by a community partner. Our DSPs continue to work in our group homes and support our members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and Mental Illness.
  • Sister Anthony is the Assistant Administrator at St. Patrick's Residence in Naperville - she is amazing on a daily basis, but during this crisis she does even more. Here she is making face masks in light of the shortage.
  • Nurses take time to thank the community for their outpouring of support and well-wishes.
  • My father has been working as a pharmacist for many years helping saving lives. You know you're safe when they are working. Cheers to Chuck, my father Bob, and Haman at Alexian Brothers in Hoffman Estates.
  • ER staff at AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center Joliet encourage community to stay home to help flatten the curve.
  • The Arekats. My three brothers AND my mother are all on the front lines every day helping the people of Chicago!
  • Staff at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center Bolingbrook encouraging community members to practice social distancing to help flatten the curve.
  • I'm sharing a photo of my Dad and before I jump into why he is my hero, I'll first say that my words will never do it justice. My dad works mostly in the background and in a position that you probably don't think of often - hauling chemicals and hazardous materials all throughout the midwest to factories.
  • Key Holder at Dollar General
  • Amita Health Nurses. My daughter and her co workers, frontline. She's the last one on the right. Prayers for their safety and strength!
  • Unnamed
  • Gina Riley ..,.Nurse at Rush Copley in Aurora ....Critical Care
  • Jen is my sister who works at MacNeal Hospital ED in Berwyn. Her husband (Dan) is a Berwyn firefighter.
  • Liz Julian from Rush University Medical Center!
  • This beautiful hero couple is my brother and sister in law. He works at Mariano’s in Western Springs and she McNeal Hospital in Berwyn. Both are fearless and amazing people!
  • Sina Azzaro, 83, sews local masks for area healthcare professionals
  • Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Pediatric ER
  • Kristin Kaske. Respiratory Therapist, Northwestern Medicine.
  • My daughter Sara is an RN at Edwards/Linden Oaks Hospital.
  • Sarah McNally. Assistant Clinical Manager RN, BSN, at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
  • NICU at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn
  • A pair of sisters caring for others! Nancy Iverson Babich (left) is the imaging director at Porter Hospital and Barb Iverson Escamilla is an RN in the NICU at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn.
  • My son, Andrew McKee, paramedic/fireman and all around hero!
  • Alejandra Fuentes, Registered Nurse, Resurrection Medical Center
  • Jacqueline Pellizzari, Staff Nurse, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
  • They work so hard taking care of our babies. It’s times like now that you realize how selflessly they do their jobs, never asking for anything in return.
  • Cardiac cath lab nurse screening visitors at Elmhurst Hospital
  • Respiratory Therapist at University of Chicago
  • Porter Hospital's Radiology Department
  • In cooperation with Move for Hunger, GoGo Squeez donates 156,000 pouches to 50 Chicago area organizations.
  • Edward Hospital Naperville
  • ER Family
  • Disi Gomez, nurse at Rush University Cancer Center: Hematology/Oncology Unit
  • Anna Rodriguez, Registered Nurse, West Suburban Medical Center
  • One of the most heart warming passionate doctors. Always taking care of her patients and her family especially her grandmother ♥️
  • Jen Weith RN, BSN, TNCC, Exercise physiology and traveling nurse
  • My younger brother Vinny is my hero! First year on the job as a paramedic for ATI Ambulance.
  • Family Medicine Chief Resident Physician UI Health
  • Is currently working in a special team to treat Covid-19 patients at the hospital she works in. Please keep her in your prayers . She is has been maintaining herself in high spirits to be able to go back in every day.
  • Radiology Technologist.
  • CFD paramedic
  • Move for Hunger, is a non-profit organization that has created a sustainable way to reduce food waste and fight hunger with their mobilized network of moving, relocation, and multi-family industries throughout the country. Move for Hunger truck delivers GoGo SqueeZ to a group of staffers from Highland Park Hospital.
  • Mary T. Higgins, RN, BSN, CAPA Northshore Highland Park
  • PICU nurse
  • Nurses asking for support
  • This is our Interventional Radiology/Cath Lab Team at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, IL
  • AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital Chicago
  • Resurrection Medical Center
  • AMITA Health Mercy Medical Center Aurora
  • Immediate care nurses from Edward Elmhurst Hospital
  • Respiratory Therapists from Michigan City, Indiana. Breathe easy, we are ready to serve. Please help us through these difficult times. Stay home, wash, wash, wash and be kind to each other
  • Pediatric er nurse practitioner at Lutheran General Hospital, grateful to be on the front line as it is my honor and duty to help the pediatric community!
  • My husband works as a delivery driver and we want to say thank you for all you do to get things to people who depend on him.
  • This is my husband Dana Escamilla and all of the hardworking staff in the Elmhurst Hospital Emergency Department. These are my heroes❤️
  • My dad is a hero. Not only to me but to many people. He is a surgeon at NorthShore University Healthsystem.
  • My husband who works at costco putting in a ton of hours.
  • AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital Elgin recognizing the Environmental Services and other support staff working alongside clinical teams to care for our communities
  • AMITA Health Medical Group Primary Care staff in Norridge receive a PPE donation from the community
  • Nurse at AMITA Health St. Alexius Medical Center Hoffman Estates celebrates a COVID-19 patient discharge
  • AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center Elk Grove Village ER nurses Kristin L. and Christina C.
  • A virtual visit from comfort dogs with the ICU staff at AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center Joliet
  • Staff at AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston thanking community for all their support
  • Healthcare workers are our Heros in these tough times! Thanks to these staff members from Amita St. Joseph Joliet
  • Healthcare workers are our Heros in these tough times! Thanks to these staff members from Amita St. Joseph Joliet
  • ICU Nurses at AMITA Health Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines
  • Infectious Disease staff from AMITA Health St. Mary's Hospital Kankakee
  • OB Nurses at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center Bolingbrook send a message to hospital volunteers, who are currently staying at home, during the recently celebrated National Volunteer Week
  • AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital Chicago ER Nurse Manager Steven M. accepting a food donation from the community
  • My Hero RN wife on the Covid front lines. @Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.
  • Staff at AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston thanking community for all their support
  • Healthcare workers are our Heros in these tough times! Thanks to these staff members from Amita St. Joseph Joliet
  • AMITA Health Mercy Medical Center Aurora
  • Glenside Fire Protection District and Addison Fire Protection District helped construct a temporary tent at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center GlenOaks.
  • Evanston Hospital 5NS Heros
  • Evanston hospital. 5North Searle staff on the frontlines.
  • Envision Unlimited nurse wearing a mask donated by a community partner
  • An Envision Unlimited Direct Support Professional (DSPs) wearing a mask donated by a community partner. Our DSPs continue to work in our group homes and support our members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and Mental Illness.
  • All in Illinois!
  • Rush University Medical Center Respiratory
  • Firenze (the sandwich shop located in the French Market in the west loop) has raised over $4k in a gofundme to donate sandwiches at cost to hospital workers and first responders. Firenze has donated hundreds of sandwiches already, and is scheduled to be at at least 1-2 hospitals every single day next week including Northwestern Memorial, Rush, Lake Forest Hospital, Elmhurst and UIC. We have more photos as well. We keep getting messages from hospital staff and nurses about how busy they are and how appreciative they are. We want to keep the sandwiches and support going.
  • My daughter in her covid PPE at hospital she works
  • ER Nurse
  • My daughter an ICU nurse at Little Co of Mary
  • Super Hero COVID 19 Nurses Christ Hospital 6 E
  • My sister Ninna Ingala is a Covid nurse at Christ Hospital. Im thankful everyday for her sacrifice, her caring heart & determination to make a difference! Thank you to all of our Frontline HEROS!
  • Cook County Health Oncology
  • Jeff Lange- Nurse Administrator- Elmhurst Hospital and Nursing Instructor - Joliet Junior College. Loving husband and father of three.
  • National Nurses Day
  • Thank you for being such a dedicated healthcare professional, loving Mom & great friend. Love, your football family.
  • This is a picture of my sister Joanie Steil who is from Chicago but works in the ER at University of Virginia Health System.
  • Joshua Weith Pharmacist for Walgreens in Chicago, IL
  • Jaclynn works at Cermak Health Services inside of Cook County Jail as a Respiratory Therapist and at Holy Cross Hospital. Steven is a Firefighter/Paramedic for Midlothian and Hometown
  • Loyola Radiation techs most compassionate and caring God bless and B safe!
  • WORKERS AT WALGREENS RETURN CENTER IN VALPARAISO, IN.
  • Such a great group of people from the East OR . They have continued caring for patients needing urgent surgery and volunteered to be assigned to work on Covid19 floors
  • \Jenna Maria. Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
  • Our Uncle CJ is a Nurse Practitioner at Northwestern Hospital downtown. He works in the ICU. He cares about his patients and he takes care of them. Stay safe Uncle and his friends at work and we thank you for helping people.
  • Beth Harms - Northwestern Memorial Hospital Happy Nurses Day. Thank you for all that you do.
  • Feeding the Frontlines: Family and friends purchased lunches for my daughter, Juliana Tu, and her colleagues at Mt. Sinai's Medical ICU
  • Porter Regional Hospital “Nightshift” left to right Jiminez, Frasure, Little, Kearney,Newburn and center Lenz.
  • My friend Sandi is a nurse working at an urgent care center in the western suburbs. She's begging people to please stay home.
  • Photo for nurses week
  • 2 nurses working the Covid floors at a Chicago hospital! Thank you for your service sister! -Lilia
  • Karin R., RN from NM Lake Forest ED wearing her PPE, fake mustache, and eyebrows to cheer a patient with covid.
  • My daughter, my hero. My daughter, my rock!!
  • Annie is my daughter-in-law and is an labor & delivery nurse at Advocate Christ Medical Center and I am so proud of her!
  • North Arlington Pediatrics
  • Nurse at MacNeal Hospital, Covid Unit
  • North Arlington Pediatrics
  • Nurse tech ICU UI health hospital. My heart and soul so proud of her Kathy Badzinski
  • North Arlington Pediatrics
  • Our BRAVE Daughter Kati. Works at Porter Regional Hospital
  • These my two Daughters.(Left )Abbey Artman BSN at CDH float team (Right) Chelsey Ellen 2020 AU graduate with her BSN
  • My beautiful daughter the nurse
  • My Mom Terri Lichon still on the Frontlines at age 60 ER nurse at Advocate Waukegan
  • Christy works at Palos Hospital in labor and delivery.
  • My brave and beautiful Mommy! Love Emily & James
  • My nieces Katie an ICU transplant nurse & Dana a perfusionist in heart surgery! God bless them & all the others.
  • Thanks Renee Hill for being a great Nurse Practitioner with MPAC Healthcare. Be Safe Everyone!!
  • My Cousin Nathia Is a Registered Nurse And I Am So proud of all her accomplishments and all her hard work on the front line
  • My niece Serina taking care of business.
  • Jennie works at Advocate Children’s Hospital Oak Lawn
  • My daughter Jess is a Registered Nurse at LGH who works Postpartum and High Risk OB...keep on bringing sunshine in these dark times!
  • Veronica cna at a hospital here in Chicago
  • My daughter Priscila and her coworkers staying safe while helping others.
  • “Faith over Fear” Lutheran General Emergency Department #STAYHOME #swabsquad #inthistogether
  • My mom Bonnie is a front line nurse at highland park hospital, she works very had to fight this pandemic and I'm very grateful.
  • My niece and I working the covid unit at Edwards Hospital
  • Our Aunt is a nurse at Northwestern
  • Luther General hospital Park ridge Our floor from being a heart for they came in to Ocala Florida this nurse assistance are in the front line
  • This is my daughter Ashleigh! She is my hero Nurse!
  • Loyola Nurses Katie Townsend and Tammy Padula on the front lines of COVID-19 care.
  • My wife Sabina, a NICU nurse at both NorthShore Evanston Hospital and UIC Medical Center. She has been treating babies born to mothers that are Covid-19 positive.
  • Maddie working the ICU at Northwestern
  • Orthopedics technicians at Midwest Ortho at Rush Erika & Sentae
  • This is Joe. He’s a nurse in the ED at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
  • Northbrook Paramedics care for several nursing homes that have been impacted by COVID. Every shift these humble husbands and fathers kiss their families (wives and 14 kids combined!) good bye, not knowing if they’ll be “allowed” to return home tomorrow from inevitable exposure. The tones and alarms sound. They drop everything to suit up. They bear layers of gear, layers of protection, layers of burden and layers of worry for every single response. These brothers don’t cringe, shutter or pull back from confirmed COVID patients. Valiantly, they rush towards the needy, giving their all, at any hour of the day or night. For these reasons, with pride, I ask that WGN broadcasts their picture as reminder of humanity’s awesomeness. Thank you!
  • Nurses from the Grove of LA Grange Park
  • Unnamed
  • Works at Little Sisters of the poor, almost everyone has quit their job due to workers scared of getting sick. She stayed because of the love she has for her seniors at the senior home.
  • L to R: Sandy Camargo, RN, in blue scrubs, Kathy Jaskulski RT, Cyndi Bylina Service Coordinator and Tammy Padula, RN
  • This is my husband, Eric Burr, who works at the Swedish Covenant Hospital. He fell ill shortly after the outbreak, and was tested negative for COVID-19. He recovered after days of fighting the illness. He has been tested positive for antibodies and he is planning to donate his plasma. He is my hero.
  • Alexian Brothers hospital Elk Grove Village
  • Working together in. The cardiac floor. With Covid Patients Luther General hospital park ridge.
  • Luther General hospital Park ridge Our floor from being a heart for they came in to Ocala Florida this nurse assistance are in the front line
  • Nurse Power
  • Corazon, OR Nurse
  • KC Manas, RN ❤️ Happy Nurses’ Week
  • SAMC-Friends working together Sheeba Nair RN and Danka Tisma RN
  • Neice Kelly on left with fellow workers at RUSH COVID ICU
  • SAMC OR RN Danka Tisma
  • Theresa is very faithful to her dream to become a nurse since we were in second grade. Dreams do come true if we have the courage to pursue them. I’m very proud and love her a lot! Love to say that she is my best friend.. 💙
  • Nurses Mary right Stefani and Jeanette checking staff members before coming to work. Making sure all staff are healthy and well to work in Waukegan awhile students are home doing E-Learning.
  • Loyola Covid-19 floor nurses.
  • My daughter, half way through nursing school, working the last few weeks on the COVID floors of Glenbrook Hospital
  • ONP NURSES Rush Copley aurora
  • Thank you to my older sister who’s been a nurse for 22 years and is currently in the Recovery Unit Post Surgery at Rush Presbyterian Hospital. A superhero❤️🤍
  • Nurse Pie is with John Stroger of Cook County Hospital, ER department. Thank you for your service
  • Frontline heroes-husband and wife-Officer Eric and Cherilyn RN
  • Fit testing nurses for masks n95
  • We are nurses that make sure that our health care workers have the appropriate mask that fits them so they are safe
  • Marc Borge MD Ariel Estandarte RN Ewelina Samel RT Michelle Kethcart APN Jennifer Verploegh APN Jola Pas RT Derek McCleaf MD Roberta Rehor RT Cindy Delestine Lori Colwell RN Alros Avellana RN Izabella Buksa RT Kristy Grisanti
  • Proning Team- L to R. Eddie- Patient Care Technician, Main OR Recovery, Tayna- Main OR, Operating Room Technician, Jennifer- ASC, Operating Room Technician
  • Marilyn Kasal and Ana Izaguirre
  • Stephanie Gamboa, RN is CORNOAVIRUS STRONG! Thank you for all you doing. We love you & you are not alone. Mom Sabrina & Nino
  • My daughter at St Joseph’s hospital Covid ICU
  • My daughter-in-law Kate Voith is an RN in the Emergency Room at Advocate Christ Hospital. We are so proud of you. Praying that you stay safe during this most difficult time.
  • Attorney Howard Ankin donates hand sanitizer to the Franklin Park Police and Fire departments
  • Attorney Howard Ankin donates hand sanitizer to the Franklin Park Police and Fire departments
  • Healthcare Heroes at HealthBridge Arlington Heights Linda, Social Worker Ann, Dietary Tech Tracie, BOM Lino, ADON Lily, DON Jennifer, Nursing supervisor Sheila, Administrator Vishwa, Infection Preventionist Keith, EVS Josie, Activities Lindsey, therapy Director Nita, Asst. therapy Director
  • Lily S. DON Samantha, CNA Mara, LPN Andie, CNA Emily, OT Maggie, Hskp Keith, EVS Director
  • She is Primary Care Doctor /Internist seeing patients at Union Health Service In Chicago serving mostly SEIU local 25 patients
  • Working together in. The cardiac floor. With Covid Patients Luther General hospital park ridge.
  • Luther General hospital Park ridge Our floor from being a heart for they came in to Ocala Florida this nurse assistance are in the front line
  • W3/ICU at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville IL
  • These volunteers assist me every week in preparing, packaging, and distributing meals every week to hardest communities in Little Village and North Lawndale.
  • Working as an ER nurse to take care of patients and help them fight to regain their life back
  • Staff Nurse at Rush Oak Park Hospital. Survivor of Covid19 and still caring for her patients.
  • Unnamed
  • My niece Caitlyn Coneset is an ICU nurse at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.
  • This is my Daughter in law Jenna Bianchi BSN at Good Samaritan.
  • Gina Riley, Rush Copley Aurora, on the front lines
  • My mother works at St.Joes Hospital in Joliet,ILL in the nursing field. She is also a lung cancer survivor who is working frontline with only one lung. We pray for her everyday to make it out of this safe and healthy. This Mother’s Day just shows us how to appreciate her even more and we noticed even more just how much of a hero she really is.
  • Michelle Badua- Highland Park Hospital
  • Lludid Maxinez who goes by Lu is a nurse at Saint Francis Hospital. She is an extraordinary team leader and charge nurse who takes on the responsibility of leading our covid unit. She puts others before her. Always goes above and beyond in everything she does. She is a true nurse inside and out. Thank you Lu!
  • Near North Health Service Corporation's nursing staff with one of many signs they made in support of each other's hard work and dedication to serving Chicago's communities and combating COVID-19
  • Advocate Aurora Christ Hospital
  • Garbage refuse collector Insuring residential waste disposal and clearing alleyways from diprese
  • Daniel Ortiz works in the Covid care Unit at UIC Hospital, he has been working so hard not only inside the hospital but he has been super active with his community to keep us all aware of Covid-19.
  • We are so proud of you in your 1st year of Nursing at Edwards Hospital. Thank you for everything you do!
This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

From first responders to medical professionals, grocery store clerks to maintenance workers, there are many Chicagoans working during the COVID-19 pandemic while the rest of us stay home.

Help WGN highlight these local heroes by submitting their photo using the button below. Please include the person’s name, where they work and what they do. Photos will not appear in the gallery immediately as a producer needs to approve each one. Some photos may also appear on a WGN newscast.

WGN thanks all of our heroes on the frontlines! You are truly Chicago’s Very Own.

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