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Rotary Youth Exchange at its Best - # 2
Some of you will remember our Exchange Student and now “Rotex” Daniela Alvarado from The Woodlands. In 2012-13 Dani spent a year in Belgium. After her return and being fluent now also in French (in addition to Spanish and English), Dani attended the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated as a Registered Nurse (RN) and then, together with two RN friends, worked in the Emergency Room at the South Austin Medical Center.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US, Dani and her two friends decided to do more and “serve above self”. On March 29, Dani posted:
To our SAMC ER family, we have decided on taking a crisis response assignment in New Jersey. Unfortunately this all happened within 3 days and we didn’t get to say goodbye to most of you ……… Hope to see you all again soon …….. Stay strong and safe. Prayers and good vibes appreciated while we fight the ”rona” up North!!
Continue . . .
Then the three drove all the way to New Jersey to fight COVID-19 right at the frontline. On May 12 they posted:
It’s now week 7 of 13 …….. Every day at the hospital is a challenge. Some days are so wonderful and other days are absolutely terrible. Usually nothing in between. We’ve learned to take what is given to us and do the absolute best we can even if that means just sitting with someone talking and holding their hand while they take their last breath, letting them know they aren’t alone ……… We feel blessed to be here and help them …...but can’t wait to be home in 6 more weeks!!!
Only three days later on May 15 Dani posted:
And the trio continues ….. we have just extended our contract here in New Jersey until mid-September. So many mixed feelings as we were counting down the days to go home in June. Our experience here has been one of a kind, we have our good days and our bad days. We’ve grown so much as nurses. Working in the frontlines is both physically and emotionally draining ………
This truly is “Service Above Self” at its best. Thank you, Dani. We are proud of you! You are a fantastic ambassador for Rotary Youth Exchange. And a “Thank you” to your two RN friends as well.
If you want to tell Dani how much you appreciate her service,
feel free to send her a note at alvarado.dani6@gmail.com
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