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Katrina victims helped by LPN, Elizabeth Brown
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| Elizabeth Brown |
Charleston, SC---When the storm struck she knew she wanted to help. Caring for people is
her passion and when Elizabeth expressed her desire to help, Lowcountry Medical Associates provided
her resources to go.
When Elizabeth expressed her desire to help those displaced by the storm she asked her practice
physicians at East Cooper Family Practice. It all came together when Dr. Strait Fairey, of East
Cooper Family Practice, contacted a family physician colleague of his, Dr. Ed Jeffries. Dr. Jeffries,
former president of Louisana Academy of Family Physicians, lives and practices in Baton Rogue. With
Dr. Jeffries help, the River Center Clinic in Baton Rogue was identified as needing help to provide
relief to Hurricane Katrina refugees.
Elizabeth arrived at the River Center ready to work. The center was similar to that of a MASH unit.
Elizabeth had numerous roles. Serving as a triage nurse, Elizabeth's care extended to evaluating
patients, taking vital signs, responding to patients who needed their blood work performed,
monitoring blood sugar, and attending to cuts and lacerations. So many patients had no access to
their medications and the River Center provided a well- stocked pharmacy to provide the much needed
medications. Lowcountry Medical Associates contributed money towards the purchase of medications
for the pharmacy. There was a wide range of care to give, lots of diabetes, wound care, and stomach
virus during the 7 days she was there. Records were kept for the patients that came. The days were
long.
The River Center is a Convention Center that transformed into a clinic and a refuge. The Red Cross
provided cots, blankets, showers, and meals for the storm refugees. From her experience, Elizabeth
shared that Americans are generous. Elizabeth was impressed that attitudes were good and there was
a true sense of appreciation.
The first several days were spent work and sleeping at the shelter. Later, Elizabeth was invited to
stay and sleep at Woodlawn Baptist Church where she had a sleeping bag and was surrounded by new
acquaintances with the same heart to serve. Elizabeth found her time in Baton Rogue to be a positive
one and she was grateful for the opportunity that Lowcountry Medical Associates made possible.
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