Farrington Smith Gallery

I usually keep our entries connected to art, even if that approach leaves me without much to write during the times I’m consumed by current events in New Orleans.

Today I’m going to veer from that policy, but I promise it won’t be a habit.

You may or may not know that I’m a labor and delivery nurse and that I worked at Memorial Medical Center during the hurricane. It was horrible beyond words to be at the hospital, and it was more horrible when I was evacuated and dumped at the Convention Center. Luckily, I left on foot with a group relative strangers and was picked up by a group of complete strangers and taken to safety.

It should come as no surprise that I have been heartbroken and angered by Louisiana’s Attorney General Charles Foti’s actions leading to the arrests of Dr. Anna Pou and nurses Lori Budo and Cheri Landry. It made me glad that a friend emailed me this message from the Louisiana State Nurses Association:

“Following the allegations which have been made against two New Orleans nurses, Cheri Landry and Lori Budo and physician Anna Pou, the Board of Directors of the Louisiana State Nurses Association wishes to express the Association’s concern and support for these dedicated health care professionals.

They chose to remain in New Orleans and care for their patients under extreme circumstances following Hurricane Katrina. It is incomprehensible for those who were not there and did not experience the horrendous and extraordinary conditions, to understand what those heroic healthcare providers endured. The lack of electricity, food, water, sanitation and oppressive heat and humidity created an atrocious environment in which to provide care for their extremely sick and frail patients. Cheri Landry, Lori Budo and Anna Pou are true heros and deserve our support, respect and thanks for a job well done under catastrophic conditions never before faced in the city of New Orleans, state of Louisiana, or our nation.”

While doctors have insurance, most nurses do not. I imagine that on top of their awful experience during the hurricane and after, as well as the current ordeal playing out in the public spotlight, my collegues Lori and Anna are struggling to put together funds to finance their legal defense.

A fund for this cause has been established for them, and if you have been saddened or outraged as I have, please contribute if you can. I don’t know either of them personally, I just think it’s a worthy cause.

You can go to any Chase Bank and make a deposit for the “Memorial Nurses Support Fund” or if you know me, or stop by the gallery, I will be happy to pool contributions and deposit them.

-Amy