Professor Nurtures Quake Victims
Kristen Buckles
Issue date: 2/26/10 Section: Features
Approximately one week after the magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12, killing thousands and toppling cities, a recent alum called her previous professor's number, hoping to recruit her for a medical relief trip.
When Asst. Professor of Nursing Sue McBee got the call from Nurse Practitioner Courtney Finney, she knew she wanted to go, but time was short and classes were just beginning.
"I just kind of sensed that maybe this was something that I was supposed to do, and the only way I could really affirm that was to talk to my dean and say, "Hey, this opportunity's been presented. I'd like to go, but I know that my first responsibility is here." As soon as I talked to Dr. [Patricia] Kraft, she didn't hesitate. She said, "You need to go." And so I talked to the other faculty that I was working with and people pitched in."
McBee then recruited her daughter, Pharmacist Megan McBee Schrock, also a C-N graduate, who had already commented to McBee that she felt a need to go.
Along with ten others, the three joined the team, which was funded in part by the Radio Bible Hour and the Ogle Foundation, and flew out on Jan. 26 to Port-au-Prince. From there, they took a six-hour bus ride to their destination, The Jimani Project Hospital on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
While one half of the team went into the devastated city of Port-au-Prince every day to provide aid, the medical team stayed behind at a previously-unused hospital and orphanage. There was no time to interact only time to sleep, eat, and work. The rewards, however, were greater than everything she gave, she said.
"The day that we left, I didn't want to go," she said. "I knew they still needed so much help. It was just really hard to leave. It was hard to come home. We don't understand how blessed we are, how fortunate we are."
With her hands over her heart and tears in her eyes, McBee shared how deeply moved she was by the suffering and strength of the Haitian people.
When Asst. Professor of Nursing Sue McBee got the call from Nurse Practitioner Courtney Finney, she knew she wanted to go, but time was short and classes were just beginning.
"I just kind of sensed that maybe this was something that I was supposed to do, and the only way I could really affirm that was to talk to my dean and say, "Hey, this opportunity's been presented. I'd like to go, but I know that my first responsibility is here." As soon as I talked to Dr. [Patricia] Kraft, she didn't hesitate. She said, "You need to go." And so I talked to the other faculty that I was working with and people pitched in."
McBee then recruited her daughter, Pharmacist Megan McBee Schrock, also a C-N graduate, who had already commented to McBee that she felt a need to go.
Along with ten others, the three joined the team, which was funded in part by the Radio Bible Hour and the Ogle Foundation, and flew out on Jan. 26 to Port-au-Prince. From there, they took a six-hour bus ride to their destination, The Jimani Project Hospital on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
While one half of the team went into the devastated city of Port-au-Prince every day to provide aid, the medical team stayed behind at a previously-unused hospital and orphanage. There was no time to interact only time to sleep, eat, and work. The rewards, however, were greater than everything she gave, she said.
"The day that we left, I didn't want to go," she said. "I knew they still needed so much help. It was just really hard to leave. It was hard to come home. We don't understand how blessed we are, how fortunate we are."
With her hands over her heart and tears in her eyes, McBee shared how deeply moved she was by the suffering and strength of the Haitian people.
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Waunita Charles
posted 2/25/10 @ 1:53 PM EST
This aritcle brought tears to my eyes. I could hardly read it all between my tears and being so touched by the vast need that is still there. I commend the ones that were able to go and serve as they did. (Continued…)
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