Raymond Bell, a milieu counselor at Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital, was among 76 New England healthcare workers invited to take one of the New England Patriots’ team planes to Tampa, FL, for the Super Bowl.
Bell, a 25-year Yale New Haven employee, joined 7,500 healthcare workers from throughout the U.S. at the game. All were guests of the National Football League.It’s hard for Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital employee Raymond Bell to name the highlight of his recent trip to the 2021 Super Bowl.
Traveling to Tampa, FL, on one of the New England Patriots’ team planes. Meeting and posing for photos with Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Joining other healthcare workers at an NFL tailgate concert headlined by Miley Cyrus. Watching the legendary game in person.
For Bell, a milieu counselor in the Transitional-Aged Youth program, all of those highlights boiled down to one thing.
“It was a day to release all the stress,” he said. “It was great to see all of these healthcare workers enjoying the moment.”
Bell had always wanted to attend a Super Bowl game, so he was amazed to learn that he’d be among 7,500 U.S. healthcare workers attending the game as guests of the National Football League. The NFL wanted to honor healthcare workers for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. All had been vaccinated against COVID-19 and maintained social distancing throughout the event.
“I’m humbled, excited. I’m grateful and I feel blessed,” Bell said during a TV interview several days before the Super Bowl.
“It's an honor for us to celebrate these healthcare workers by giving them a well-deserved break for a day and an opportunity to enjoy the Super Bowl, a reality that is only made possible because of the vaccines,” Kraft said in a statement. “We hope that in doing so, others are also encouraged to get vaccinated as they are able. Once again, we want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all of the healthcare heroes who have risked their well-being to ensure ours. They are truly superheroes to us.”
