My niece is back from Camp Phoenix in Baton Rouge.

greatauntoftriplets

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Sun Nov-06-05 09:35 PM
Original message

My niece is back from Camp Phoenix in Baton Rouge.

She is a psychiatric nurse practitioner who spent two weeks working at the Find Family Call Center, doing counselling with family members looking for loved ones (there are 1,100 unidentified bodies in a morgue in Louisiana) and also talking with volunteers overwhelmed by what they are dealing with.

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=19119

It has been the experience of a lifetime, she just got back this evening but is happy that she did her bit. We are damn proud of her.

Go Laura!!!!

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Suich

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Sun Nov-06-05 09:48 PM
Response to Original message

1. Give your niece a big hug from me, would you?

Thank goodness there are dedicated people like her helping those who need it!
:woohoo:

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greatauntoftriplets

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Sun Nov-06-05 09:58 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Thanks, and I will.

She is happy to be back home. And today is her birthday. Got in too late for me to head out to the burbs to celebrate, but she is with her parents, siblings and the triplets.

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obxhead

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Sun Nov-06-05 10:02 PM
Response to Original message

3. First I give mt thanks..

second I ask - How bad was it? So many horror stories coming from that area that I'm almost afraid to ask.

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greatauntoftriplets

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Sun Nov-06-05 10:06 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. She just got back tonight, haven't talked to her much.

Edited on Sun Nov-06-05 10:07 PM by greatauntoftriplets

Very bad. There are 1,100 bodies unidentified in the morgue. Many bodies are so badly damaged that their race cannot even be determined. I think that there are lots of families calling...I know that she worked 12 hours a day.

When I know more, I will post more.

On edit: She was about to eat her first decent meal in two weeks. My other niece's husband is a professional chef and he was cooking good stuff to welcome Laura back to Chicago.

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obxhead

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Sun Nov-06-05 10:12 PM
Response to Reply #4

7. My best friend is on her way...

I told her to brace herself for the worst experience of her life. I doubt that will even be enough.

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greatauntoftriplets

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Sun Nov-06-05 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #7

8. Where is your friend going???

Good luck to her. Either it will be a great experience or she will need counselling. Wish my niece was there for her.

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obxhead

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Sun Nov-06-05 10:39 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. She has been through some of the worst of times already....

Her sister had serious birth defects. Long story short, her sister was never expected to make it through high school.

If She's accepted she will be going to the heart of the mess in NO with a division of Americore (ok, spelling may be off).

She gets terrible beni's, but her desire to help overrides the cost to her personal life. I must commend her for that.

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greatauntoftriplets

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Sun Nov-06-05 10:44 PM
Response to Reply #9

10. Good luck to her....

My niece was in the extremely fortunate position that she was there with a group from the hospital at which she works, and got paid to be there by the hospital...which also paid for a replacement for her.

My company sponsors a City Year team in Chicago (part of Americorps) and they are truly heroes. My niece at 32 (today!) is older than your friend. Anything to do with Americorps is great. My best to her. Stay in touch.

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ScreamingMeemie

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Sun Nov-06-05 10:09 PM
Response to Original message

5. She's got a GREAT name too!

:bounce:

On a serious note...tell her how much I appreciate her for giving so much of herself. How tough that had to be, and yet, how much she must have come away with. Yay on her. :hug:

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greatauntoftriplets

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Sun Nov-06-05 10:11 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. Yes, she does have a great name....

It is one I have always liked. The trips' mother is named for me (Sheila).

I will tell her, and she has come away with lots. As I said, we are so damn proud of her.

:hug:

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