Sunday March 12, Day 2 in New Orleans

Day 2 - Sunday March 12

Today I am volunteering up at Loyola law school printing out the docket masters to use for our Right To Counsel project throughout the week. I spend the afternoon with a Loyola student, a 30 year old woman who lost her home in the storm. She is originally from New Orleans and she told me about how her home was destroyed, her mother’s home was destroyed, as well as her sister’s home. She said that the evacuation plan called for people to go to their relatives homes – but the homes of her relatives were all destroyed. She was able to get her 6 year old son out of their home safely but they weren’t able to bring their dog to the evacuation shelter.

By the time she could go back to the house, their beloved family dog was long gone. When they returned to her home, it was in ruins - she found a few toys and broken pieces of furniture, but most of it was washed away and destroyed. She is now in the process of re-building her life, her wardrobe, her home, and starting anew. I can see the pain in her eyes when she talks about the effect the storm has had on her son. He is old enough to know what is going on around him and to know that he lost his home and his dog, but not old enough to know what to do with these emotions or how to process them. She says that he is one step away from needing psychiatric help but those services just aren’t available yet, but she knows he will definitely need it.

I’m amazed by her fortitude, her strength, and her commitment to give so much of her time to the Student Hurricane Network. She thanks me for giving up my spring break to volunteer in New Orleans and expresses her appreciation for what I’m doing. I feel so privileged, I’m only giving up my spring break – a luxury that I have because I have the privilege of attending law school – I will leave after my trip and return to my home and my dog. She has so little, she needs so much and gives her time nonetheless, and yet she is thanking me for giving up something so insignificant as my spring break. I can’t imagine spending my spring break anywhere else.