As coronavirus cases are surging across the country, a group of health care workers from the Milwaukee area are helping out in a state that's been especially hard hit.Texas has at least 282,000 confirmed cases across the state, but one hospital in Austin is getting some help from Ascension health care workers.WISN 12 News was there when the four nurses and two respiratory therapists left from Mitchell International Airport last week.They're in Austin treating coronavirus patients.Lisa Knigge is one of the respiratory therapists who made the trip.She told WISN 12 News they're seeing a lot of patients who are critically ill and need ventilators to help them breathe.What do you hope to take from this experience and bring back to Wisconsin when you return? WISN 12 News Sheldon Dutes asked. I think anytime you care for people that are critically ill, it takes a lot out of you, but I think that really is empowering in a way because it is so humbling; it does remind you that life is short and anyone could get sick at any time. I think when I go home Im going to be very grateful to go home and see my family and my friends, Knigge said. Knigge and the other Ascension health care workers are scheduled to return home this weekend.Another group of nurses from the Milwaukee area will leave for Florida, another hot spot, on Sunday.

As coronavirus cases are surging across the country, a group of health care workers from the Milwaukee area are helping out in a state that's been especially hard hit.

Texas has at least 282,000 confirmed cases across the state, but one hospital in Austin is getting some help from Ascension health care workers.

WISN 12 News was there when the four nurses and two respiratory therapists left from Mitchell International Airport last week.

They're in Austin treating coronavirus patients.

Lisa Knigge is one of the respiratory therapists who made the trip.

She told WISN 12 News they're seeing a lot of patients who are critically ill and need ventilators to help them breathe.

What do you hope to take from this experience and bring back to Wisconsin when you return? WISN 12 News Sheldon Dutes asked.

I think anytime you care for people that are critically ill, it takes a lot out of you, but I think that really is empowering in a way because it is so humbling; it does remind you that life is short and anyone could get sick at any time. I think when I go home Im going to be very grateful to go home and see my family and my friends, Knigge said.

Knigge and the other Ascension health care workers are scheduled to return home this weekend.

Another group of nurses from the Milwaukee area will leave for Florida, another hot spot, on Sunday.

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Group of Wisconsin health care workers in Texas to assist in coronavirus 'hot zone' - WISN Milwaukee