KING, N.C.—
Shannon Brooke is a recent college graduate who will start her job as a nurse next week. Brooke already has some hands-on experience after returning from Haiti where she helped with earthquake relief."All night long she held this cross in her hand. She never let go." Brooke said.
Brooke recalls seeing patients in Haiti. The 21-year-old from King went after seeing the devastation in Haiti on television.
"I saw it one the news of course, and I just prayed that I could do something to help, not really knowing what to expect." Brooke said.
Brooke spent eight days in Haiti with a team of 14 people from the North Carolina Baptist Men Association, but it was a trip she almost missed out on.
"Then I got a call one Thursday afternoon and it said 'we have one spot open for a nurse do you want to go?' so I said yes." Brooke said.
Brooke worked primarily as a nurse in the ICU and triage section of the Haitian Community Hospital, located about 10 miles outside of Port-au-Prince. She says, despite reports from other health professionals and volunteers in Haiti, she never ran out of medical supplies.
"Tons of injuries to limbs, and a lot of people were in the hospital to have their dressing changed. They were not ready to go home yet." Brooke said.
Brooke returned from Haiti 10 days ago, and the soon-to-be registered nurse has many photos to remind her of the real-world experience.
"It was definitely baptism by fire. I basically just had to jump in." Brooke said.
Brooke says she would go back to Haiti if she gets the opportunity.
