September 15, 2005

TO: Our supporters

FROM: Prem Menon, MD
Asthma, Allergy & Immunology Center
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

RE: Hurricane Katrina Relief

Dear Friends,

I am assuming that everyone, wherever they live in the world, were touched by the death, devastation, pain, suffering, economic loss and physical and emotional turmoil caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Just as Dr. Mike Magee remarked in his book Positive Leadership, "the most memorable acts of kindness are often simple actions that are exquisitely timed." We applaud and appreciate your prompt, timely and generous response to our request for the relief efforts. Thank you for your financial contributions. We have received hundreds of nebulizers and their AC adapters, peak flow meters, holding chambers with and without mask, aerosol delivery ensemble, baby formula, diapers, metered dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers.

From San Diego, CA, Dr. Michael Mellon's FedEx package was one of the first ones to arrive. From Seattle, WA, AANMA Outreach Service Coordinator Anna McCartney sent 9 cases of precious cargo containing food for people with food allergies. Anna also offered to fly an evacuee family to Seattle, WA, to live in her guesthouse for an extended period of time.

Dr. Parvathy Mohan of Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, made hundreds of children happy by arranging a shipment of Nestle Good Start Supreme DHA powders, nursers and latex free nurser nipples.

I have distributed the medications and supplies in a piece-meal manner after personally assessing the need at each government-sponsored or church shelter and medical facility. I partnered with Dr. Roberta Vicari, Medical Director, and Dr. Dave Thomas, Pediatric Pulmonologist, of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA. Pharmacists at the shelters were very helpful. Emphasis was placed on prompt delivery of the medications and supplies to the needy, avoiding glut in one place or waste.

Six-year-old Ann Elise St. Paul of Pas Christian, MS, has labile asthma and was evacuated to her Aunt Michelle McMahon's house in Baton Rouge. She was recently hospitalized for asthma flare up. With AANMA's efforts I was able to provide Ann Elise a new nebulizer and asthma medications. A prominent pediatrician from Ochsner Clinic New Orleans has severe asthma and is on various asthma medicines. She and her husband were air lifted 6 days after Katrina flooded New Orleans. Thanks to the generosity of AANMA supporters, I could provide her a new nebulizer and asthma medicines, which were promptly delivered by me at 9:00 pm to the parking lot of a mall in Baton Rouge prior to settling her in a local hotel.

Things are settling down. In the initial days the evacuees were triaged and appropriately channeled. Based on the gravity of their conditions, patients were sent to various hospitals or treated at the camps themselves. Some of the shelter residents have been relocated by FEMA to more long-term dwellings, such as host families, rented houses, hotels, motels and mobile homes.

The evacuees are of all ages, races, sexes and economic background. I met a 70-year-old retired doctor, Ghulam Nabi, MD, who lost every material possession that he had. There was a beautiful 2-week-old baby girl, Emma, comfortably sleeping at the River Center arena. I heard about another 2-week-old infant born at the shelter who was named Katrina. There were people on crutches and in wheel chairs. Children of all ages were running and playing, obviously not recognizing the magnitude of the situation. Some were watching the sports on television. Others were watching the weather on TV to track the newest hurricane, Ophelia, which kept up its teasing dance along the Carolina coast.

Talking, touching, listening and helping the evacuees was a very rewarding and humbling experience. Under different circumstances we could have been them. Their needs were minimal. The shelters were very cold. People requested sweaters, socks and t-shirts. Some folks had their automobiles and asked for gas money. Very few in the shelters seemed to be concerned about enrolling their children in the local schools. Maybe it did not sink in that they are here for the long haul. Some were anxious to return to New Orleans. So many were unsure where else to go since there was nothing at all to go back to. The retired doctor invited me to have coffee at the McDonald's down the block. Although I left my cell phone number with him, he never called me for help.

I would like to think that medications and medical supplies will be needed on an ongoing basis for some time to come, but not to the same extent. Basic needs of clothing, baby and adult diapers, household items, cleaning supplies, transportation, gasoline and school items such as uniforms, shoes and back packs will be needed.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana are facing bankruptcy and uphill battles. The city where Jazz was born is preparing for a major rebuilding process. Assimilation of the displaced physicians, both academicians and private practitioners, teachers and all the neo unemployed will be ongoing challenges for Baton Rouge and other cities in Louisiana.

Your continued support and prayers are necessary. We will forever be indebted to you for your prompt and generous help.