Commentary - Hurricane Katrina: One girl’s selfless efforts in recovery Published April 5, 2012 By Col. Thomas 'Chet' Roshetko 92nd Medical Group Commander FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Recently, I was reminded of three very powerful things: The world is small, caring human beings have an amazing impact on others and horrible situations can change your life for the better. Last week, I met for the first time Leslie Woodfill, Regional Co-Director of Eastern Washington Make-A-Wish Foundation. To our mutual surprise, we soon realized we actually had a very direct and personal connection to each other back in 2007. A connection that matched a cancer stricken 12-year-old in Spokane and the rebuilding of a Mississippi preschool destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. A connection that changed my attitude toward difficult challenges and honed my family's resiliency. In fact, the memory was so powerful that I actually wiped a tear as Leslie and I talked. The Storm: In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina, the largest natural disaster in American history sent 28-foot storm surges across the Mississippi coastline. Hurricane force winds lasted more than 17 hours, killing 235 people, flooding 90 percent of Mississippi coastal areas 6-12 miles inland, and destroying or severely damaging 67 percent of the Gulf-area's homes and businesses. The Mississippi repair costs doubled the previous American record for storm damage. The afternoon after Katrina passed through, the New Orleans levy system broke leading to complete flooding of The Big Easy. This destruction exponentially raised the Katrina repair costs. Amongst the businesses destroyed was the Total Learning Center Daycare in Ocean Springs, Miss. Amongst other things significantly damaged was Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Eastern Washington Make-A-Wish Foundation: In 2006, Elise, a typical 12- year-old from Spokane, was diagnosed with advanced Leukemia. In the midst of her scary prognosis, difficult treatment and precarious future, Elise met Woodfill. As she does every day for gravely ill children, she immediately began crafting a great experience for Elise. She soon found out, Elise was something special. Instead of wanting something for herself, Elise wanted to give to others. Yes, this very sick pre-teen wanted to help the less fortunate. In fact, her heart focused on children victimized by Katrina. Despite her condition, Elise, on her own, researched needs in Mississippi and decided her wish would be rebuilding the Total Learning Center Daycare, 2,413 miles from her home. The Roshetko's: Fifteen months after Katrina, I received three-weeks' notice of orders to Keesler. My job was to activate a new squadron and reestablish five inpatient care units at Keesler Medical Center. It was a shocking and sudden change of plans. With minimal warning, I had to leave Florida's beautiful white beaches and emerald coast. In addition, I had to part from the very exciting speciaI operations mission at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Yet, these losses were easy compared to learning I had to move without my wife and four kids (ages 1, 4, 12 and 15). With a very heavy heart, I packed up and drove away from "my home" having no idea when we would be a family again. As I drove to Biloxi, the destruction became very apparent. Despite heroic efforts by thousands of people, only a small percentage of the 15-year recovery plan was complete. In fact, the morning I arrived, the local cemetery completed replacing headstones on graves after reinterring remains were disrupted by the storm. This visual added to my mental angst and frustration. That morning I moved into billeting for a seven month stay. Despite my woes, I soon discovered the indomitable spirit of Mississipians and Team Keesler. Though the collective mantra was not written down anywhere, the theme running throughout the area was: Katrina was a horrible tragedy that destroyed our neighborhoods, but not our character. We have lots and lots of work to do. We welcome your help, but we are not waiting for your help. We will move one pile at a time, replace one brick at a time, and return one business at a time. If you choose to help, here is a list of how we can use you. In fact, while Keesler Airmen worked hundreds of on-base rebuilding projects, the wing commander regularly sent out a long list of area needs so we could also help the community's recovery. It was very common to find dozens of people showing up at a stranger's home to mud-out the interior, then find the same group at another project a few days later. I was humbled and amazed. Finally, summer of 2007 arrived, my family was together again. We pledged not to dwell on missing Florida, but rather embrace Mississippi. These words were easy to say, but we had to work hard at living them. Amongst the things we chose to do was helping out the "help needed" list. My teenage son reviewed the taskings and picked out a children's daycare in Ocean Springs, Miss. We arrived to find a daycare needing lots and lots of work. A dozen other locals joined us. We were soon scraping walls, plastering holes, priming and painting. Directly overhead, men were putting in light fixtures, new kitchen appliances were installed and outside the landscaping was made kid-ready. Within days, a once destroyed neighborhood, showed signs of rebirth. In addition, the day symbolized for our family a renewed energy. We firmly realized we were not stuck in a downtrodden situation, but rather were blessed by in incredible opportunity. On July 18, 2007, a young cancer-stricken girl from Spokane arrived in southern Mississippi to help cut the ribbon on Total Learning Daycare Center. A daycare, Elise, made possible by directing her Make-A-Wish opportunity to helping others. Amazingly, Elise made it happen by utilizing only $2,100 in Make-a-Wish Funds. She found a way to secure local business donations for the other $30-50,000 in labor and supply costs. When I asked Woodfill how a sick girl at 12-years-old thinks this way, she replied, "Kids who face life threatening illnesses mature far beyond their peers. In Elise's case she chose to claim, "I am fighting this cancer. I am surviving. I am lucky. I can give back. '" Elise's goal was to help kids. She succeeded. In the meantime, she also helped a neighborhood and a small business. Just like the people of Mississippi, Elise chose to turn a bad situation for good. In the big picture, she made a small impact on the huge Gulf Coast. Inadvertently, she made a huge impact on our small family. My take away: life will give you challenges and difficulties. When it does, proactively ask for help, but move forward resolving the issue no matter how much help you get...and while you're in the midst of recovery, reach out and help others.