Fwd: Re: Fwd: Clarion Mold Article

October 9, 2005

Thanks. I think with some slight edits, that letter can become a cut-and-paste

job for more letters to reporters and editors.

Thanks for those articles! Keep 'em coming! As aggravating as it is to read them

(understatement of the year), anything with an email addie provides another

opportunity to respond with better information.

I have been on the phone with nurse volunteers (Sam and Pat, who absolutely

rock) working out of the temporary FEMA center in Baton Rouge trying to work the

missing persons search. They're living in 100-man tents. Their phones go on and

off constantly, but they'll call you back a zillion times if they have to.

They're tired and frustrated and busting hump to do all they can. They say the

place is also staffed with several doctors and at least 3 funeral directors.

When they aren't treating someone or arranging burials, they get on the phones

and call next-of-kin, trying to get their files straight so they can find as

many people as possible - hopefully alive. In most cases, they never get to see

the results of their efforts. They have to move on to the next task. Most had to

make many calls and write letters before anyone would even let them volunteer,

and they feel their persistence has paid off by allowing them to be of service.

They tell me that the spirit of comeraderie and friendship is beyond anything

you see in normal times. And in the end, we had to agree that all the best

people we have ever come to know are the ones we find when the chips are down

and all hell has broken loose. That's when you find out who the good guys and

who your friends are. These are some truly outstanding human beings. Just

talking to them has made my week. Just thought you guys might like to know. It

isn't all utter blackness out there.

What we can do from here may be limited in its way, and it may be beyond

frustrating to be able to do so little when there is so much to be done and it

seems like so many are intent on stopping us. So, we write a letter instead of

putting up a building. So what? We do what we can do and all we can do, and no

one can ask more than that. We here are uniquely situated to do something and

address issues the people on the ground cannot do, and would not have time to do

if they even knew how. Cut-n-paste, meds, cut-n-paste, nap, cut-n-paste, more

meds, cut-n-paste, sit in the fog for a while ...

Serena

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