An Absolute Miracle!

As many of you know, a terrible earthquake hit the island of Haiti on Tuesday January 12, 2010. As each day passes, the likelihood of finding survivors lessens. Over the weekend several people were found alive in a supermarket where they were able to survive on peanut butter and jelly.

Without water an average person can survive 3 days without water. This can vary according to your age, condition, temperature and other factors.

The United States sent incredible teams down to help Haiti. One of them is The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF). This is a search team that includes dogs that can smell human life. These dogs are able to distinguish between the smell of someone alive or someone that has just died. It is amazing to watch these teams working together to find survivors amidst all the rubble.


Yesterday, day 8, a rescue team from Mexico found a 69 year old woman, Ena Zizi buried in the Haitian National Cathedral. The woman was heard singing and praying. She was dehydrated, had a dislocated hip and a broken leg but was otherwise doing well. They were able to take her to a hospital for medical aid. She said she was "all right, sort of." She also said her faith as a Roman Catholic helped her through the ordeal, and added: "I talked only to my boss - God. And I didn't need any more humans."

Some of these teams have incredible listening devices that they can use that can even pick up the sound of someone breathing. They are able to use this equipment to listen in areas where they believe there are still survivors.

I am just amazed at the technology we have that can help the island of Haiti. I am grateful we have these men, women and dogs that have been working for days to bring hope to so many. Not all the stories have had a happy ending, in fact most don't. But stories like this 69 year old woman keep us all hoping and praying.

USNS Comfort Gets Ready to Sail

I have had many people calling me asking if I am planning on heading to Haiti. I guess my friends know me too well. The most exciting news is that the USNS Comfort is leaving Baltimore on Saturday morning. She will reach Haiti on January 21. News Article New Article 1/16

The Comfort is a Navy ship, and when not actively deployed, is kept in a state of reduced operations in Baltimore Harbor. Every two years she goes on a medical mission to Central & South America. She is also available for disaster relief, she helped in New York after 9/11 and was in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. She has been used many times over the years and has been ready to ship out of Baltimore with 5 days' notice.

It takes a lot to ready a ship of this size and magnitude. They need medical supplies, food and a crew. These are things that can't be left on the ship in case it is needed. The ship can handle up to 1,000 patients. A 250-bed hospital is currently being set up on the ship, which will be equipped with four operating rooms, eight to 15 ICUs, as well as CAT scanners and other state-of-the-art equipment.

The ship will be anchored off Haiti's shore and patients will have to be flown in by helicopter. The Comfort can also make drinking water from sea water. The ship can pump out 300,000 gallons of water per day thanks to its four distilling plants.

As many of you know, I was on the Comfort last summer for 2 months on a medical mission. the first country the Comfort helped in was Haiti. I did not arrive until they were departing the Dominican Republic so I did not help in Haiti.

At this time, I am waiting to hear if my help will be needed on the ship. Over 600 doctors and nurses have already been called to serve on the ship. These men and women will drop everything and get ready to serve on the ship.

My heart just aches for the people of Haiti. I have been watching the news as it unfolds on CNN. Every minute, every hour and every day makes a difference to someone. My prayers are with the people of Haiti, and with all the rescue workers, doctors and nurses that are either there now or on the way.

Should I be concerned???

Every Saturday Gary goes to a tennis lesson at Thorbeckes from 9:00 am until noon. Someone would have to be dying for him to even consider missing practice. It is a Skills & Drills class taught by TJ Underwood, the Tennis director.

Last Saturday morning, I was getting ready to go visit my brother Grover in Woodland, WA for his family Christmas. Gary had a match later in the day and realized he wouldn't be able to take the lesson and go to a family function with me. He was getting ready to climb in the shower and this was our conversation:

Kirsten: "What are you doing?"

Gary: "Taking a shower."

Kirsten: "Don't you have tennis practice this morning?"

Gary: "Yes."

Kirsten: "And you are taking a shower before practice?"

Gary: "Yes."

Kirsten: "Why didn't you take one before you went to bed last night?"

Gary: No response

I think I just might have to pop into Thorbeckes next Saturday to see what happens at lessons!!

When I was on the ship...

I know that just seeing the title of this blog has made my family cringe! Ever since I have been home I am frequently heard saying that exact phrase, or "When I was on my mission...". In August I attended a luncheon in Salt Lake City at the Church Office, and many of the other men women I worked with have had the same reaction from their families. Well, I was on that ship for 2 months and it became my life while I was there. I am constantly remembering something that happened, something I saw or did. I realized that I never gave a closing post to my blog on my mission so I thought I would try and put it in words.

I have had a difficult time writing about my mission and I am not sure why. Every time I sit down and try to put words to what I experienced I hit a block. Unfortunately I did not keep a journal while I was there and that was a big lesson for next time. Right now I can still see and feel it all but I know that will eventually fade.

The first two weeks after I left I dreamt about the USNS Comfort every night. I dreamt about the ship, the patients, the people I worked with, the military, everything. So many people asked me about it and my response started with "It was an emotional roller coaster". I found myself talking about the sad cases, the people we couldn't help. So it seemed to me that no one wanted to talk about it when I so desperately needed to. Why would anyone want to talk with me about sadness, sick children and frustration.

Well, for the record, Continuing Promise 09 saw over 100,000 patients and did over 1600 surgeries on the ship. We helped so many people that would otherwise not been taken care of. We changed so many lives and brought comfort and hope to nearly everyone we saw. To many of the patients and their families it was a miracle. I would frequently hear someone crying and it was a cry of relief and joy. Patients could see again, or their bodies were repaired. So many were grateful for what we gave them, but they will never know what they gave to me.

I learned more about faith, hope, love, kindness and compassion in those short two months than I will ever learn in my life. Very few complained of pain or anything else, they were so grateful to have the help and care that we provided. (Many did complain of nausea but that comes from being on a ship several miles off the coast).

The children, no matter what was wrong, were all so happy. They all smiled and had such a great time coming to the clinics. The moms kept their children comfortable and busy for the wait, at times several hours. Sometimes I realized how quickly I was moving to get patients in and out of the clinic, trying to keep order, and I realized that I needed to take a few moments and just spend a little time with the children and their families.

I was fortunate that nearly every country I was able to be in pediatrics. I loved being with the children, they bring so much happiness and joy with them. I wish I could take every one of them home with me.

The people in the countries we visited are all grateful for what they have. They aren't worried about what designer jeans to get or what restaurant to eat at. They live with extended families, and family is important to them. Many children had disfiguring conditions but they were the ones that had the biggest smiles.

I recently purchased a Spanish computer program and my goal is to be more fluent in Spanish. The USNS Comfort will go back to Central & South America in 2011 and I plan on being there for another 2 months. The USNS Mercy will be in the Pacific in 2010. I have a grand baby due in June so I am not sure if I will make it or not.

Things I Miss the Most:

The announcements throughout the day: revelie, sweepers, taps and others. (I can't believe I am actually saying that!)

Working as a nurse alongside some incredible nurses and corpsmen.

The Evening meetings letting us know what happened during the day and what to expect in the next day or two.

Waking up every morning knowing I have a purpose, a job to do.

Being disciplined.

Seeing all the men and women in uniform.

Being able to survive with very little. I was amazed at how much I could do without and how little I really needed.

I miss Ashley, Mindy, CJ & Rachel. These were the 4 younger non medical volunteers with our group that served the entire 4 months. I was so impressed with them, how quickly they made friends, how friendly they were and how easy going they were in every situation. They made the trip a lot of fun for the rest of us.

The rocking of the boat. It is very comforting and soothing.

Wearing my Missionary name tag.


This Mission was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, and it was also the most rewarding. I will always have a piece of the USNS Comfort and its crew in my heart. I have so much love, respect and admiration for our Military and their families. I finally got around to putting together a short video. Most of it is pictures of the kids, many are in previous posts.

If you ever get an opportunity to do something like this, take the chance. The more it puts you out of your comfort zone, the more you will get out of it.

Fallen Heroes

This evening Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Walter "Kent" Mundell died. He was shot a week ago and had been in Critical Condition ever since. On Monday December 21, he and his partner Sergeant Nicholas Hausner responded to a domestic call in Eatonville. The situation went bad and both officers were shot. Deputy Mundell took several shots and was able to shoot back and kill the man that had shot them. Sgt Hausner was able to go home Christmas Eve, but before he went home he went to Harborview Medical Center to visit his partner.

On November 29, 4 Lakewood Police Officers were ambushed and killed. Sergeant Mark Renninger, Officer Ronald Owen, Officer Tina Griswold and Officer Greg Richards were slain in a coffee shop while preparing for their shift.

On October 31, Officer Timothy Brenton of the Seattle Police Department was killed in a drive by shooting. His partner, officer trainee Britt Sweeney was injured during the incident.

On August 18, Lewis County Sheriff's Deputy Stephen "Mike" Gallagher died after a car accident. He was heading to back up another deputy on a domestic violence call when his car hit an Elk on Highway 12.

These men and women gave their lives in the line of duty. I have law enforcement officers and fire fighters in my family and I worry about them every time I hear about a shooting or injury. The 7 left behind spouses, children and other family members. I can't imagine what they are all going through, especially during the holiday season.

I would like to ask each of you to remember not only these fallen heroes, but the other law enforcement officers and fire fighters that work to protect us and keep us safe every hour of the day, every day of the year. Please pray for them and their families. Whenever you need to call 911, these men and women are ready for us and for our families.

Please take a moment, the next time you see a fire fighter, or law enforcement officer, tell them thank you. They have recently lost their brothers and sister and they are mourning the loss as well. I have so much respect for them. I hope that someday there will be a time when I can do something for them.

Deputy Walter "Kent" Mundell

Officer Greg Richards

Sergeant Mark Renninger

Officer Ronald Owen

Deputy Stephen "Mike" Gallagher

Officer Timothy Brenton

Officer Tina Griswold

What did you GIVE for Christmas?

Over the next couple of days one of the most frequent questions we are going to ask or hear is "What did you get for Christmas"? It is a very reasonable question as Christmas is a time for exchanging presents. We have spent a lot of time planning our lists of presents to buy, we spent time shopping, and we spent money.

Last Sunday at Church our former Bishop, Bishop Stephen Walker, gave a brief talk towards the end of Sacrament Meeting. In his talk he encouraged us to change the word get to give, so it now becomes "What did you give for Christmas"? He did not mean what present did you buy for who, how much did you spend or who did you buy for. He was talking about what did we give of ourselves, our talents and our time.

Did we donate to a charity? Did we help someone in need? Were we there for a friend? Most important is what did we give to Christ? He gave everything for us so why not give something for Him?

Let's try and forget about how commercial Christmas has become, and let's remember what this day is all about. President Thomas S Monson of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints said that asking that question "prompts stimulating thought, causes tender feelings to well up and memory' fires to glow ever brighter."

Take some time and think about what you have given, not just at Christmas but all year. Let's all make an effort to try and give a little more of our time to helping and serving others. Christmas Gifts can become Christmas Blessings.

I wish all my family and friends a very Merry Christmas. I hope your day is full of love and laughter. If you can, tell me a little about what you gave for Christmas.

Kirsten's 50th Birthday

On my birthday, my loving family put a candle in a cookie and sang Happy Birthday to me.

Daphne helping blow out my candleVideo of singing Happy Birthday

The end of my birthday was spent with Michelle at two different Walgreen's in Olympia. We were doing some last minute deals with coupons. We also went to two Target's! Personally I can't think of a better way to end the day.

Then on Saturday, we had a big party with family and friends. Our closest friends from Utah, the Jefferies family, surprised me by driving out here for my party!

My daughter Laura catered desserts and appetizers for the party. We feasted on:

Zucchini and Potato-Stuffed Sweet Peppers

Avocado-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

Bruschetta

Pesto-Stuffed Mushrooms

Chocolate Truffles

Rocky Road Fudge

Cranberry-Brie Bites

And the most delicious cake I've ever had!!

Michelle and I made one of our signature birthday quilts for the party. I'm having family and friends sign their names on my birthday quilt.

It was an absolutely fun filled week and I am so glad I have friends and family to celebrate with. It was a major milestone for me, but I wanted to celebrate it instead of mourning.