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June 7, 2006
Covenant House in New Orleans
Covenant House's New Orleans site has opened a free health clinic, thanks in no small part to the vigorous efforts of Dr Karen DeSalvo. A group of Tulane med students got together and decided to pitch in with the hopes of keeping the clinic open on Saturdays. Led by Dr DeSalvo (woman front and center in red t-shirt) and Ben Rieff (upper right, beard and ball cap), a number of us painted the clinic from Friday, June 2nd, through Sunday. And late Sunday, let me tell you. Waiting to get in on Sunday morning, Dr DeSalvo told us that she'd been to a funder's conference the night before, and reported that the charities are experiencing Katrina fatigue. This, however, is not a Katrina issue. Covenant House's mission is long-term. They focus on taking in homeless children.
Posted by Niels Olson at June 7, 2006 10:27 PM
Comments
You all deserve a "world hug" for what you are doing. Its not apparent that many medical school students are so pro-active in their communities, muchless areas that desperately need medical care. The place you find to put down your roots, will blossom because you are there. Never forget that physicians are meant to care, individually and collectively.
Few people realize how many homeless children under the age of ten are on the streets at night. In the late 1970s, Dallas was shocked to learn that there were over 200. That was those in one area alone, and could be counted. What's critically important is why are children homeless? Like child abuse its a nasty stain on our society, but you'are helping to heal not only the bodies of the children in NO but their hearts, as well.
In 1976, on a panel with the great child advocate, Dr. Uri Bronfenner, I asked him if he knew of one thing that was the most important to a child's survival. He had just returned from Russia and China, and authored, Segregation of the Ages, so I thought he would be my best resource, as well as a great colleague. His answer: That one person, some person, is absoluting "crazy" about that child--it can be a parent, a grandparent, the school crossing-guard, the candystore sales person--but it has to be someone." So, you may not realize it now, but your loving care is saving not only little bodies but their "hearts," as well--that is true healing.
Posted by: Upsflyin at June 16, 2006 2:33 PM
Can you use out of state volunteer RNs from California?
Posted by: Liz jacobs at August 1, 2006 12:22 PM
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