ROCHELLE  — Following the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, donations and assistance have been coming from all across the country. Rochelle resident Mandy Hale answered to call for help, recently returning from a three-day trip to Houston.

Hale along with coworker Mary Anderson of Dixon, who are both nurse leaders at DaVita Dialysis Center, volunteered after the kidney treatment company sent out the request for assistance from dialysis nurses. After quickly obtaining the necessary nursing licenses, the pair hopped on a plane.

Hale explained after arriving, many of the staffing needs were already taken care of by local nurses.

“The dialysis teams worked together tirelessly to be sure that patients had been cared for,” Hale stated. “We performed some patient care and other duties; however, we largely supported our patients and teammates through listening to their stories and experiences during the hurricane.”

Hale learned that although some of their teammates lost everything they owned, that didn’t stop them from helping patients at the clinic. Many, Hale said, were staying with family members or in hotels.

“They were doing whatever they needed to do to care for all patients, regardless of dialysis provider, knowing how important dialysis is to patients’ lives,” Hale said. “I heard some very inspiring stories while there…one of our teammates literally saved the lives of a couple and their five-day old baby who were trapped under an overpass.”

Knowing some of the people there had already been working around the clock, Hale noticed how much resiliency everyone had during the days that followed the hurricane. From solving staffing issues to finding solutions to the complications of how to get people to the clinic, the team worked together.

“When I arrived, my overall impression was pure amazement regarding how resilient we as people are. I was impressed by the way the city mobilized to respond to the disaster,” Hale recalled. “Highways were opening and things were slowly, yet steadily, returning to normal.”

Plenty of positive stories emerged after the hurricane amid so much loss, including one that Hale shared that came after her team arranged for a water truck to travel to Beaumont, a nearby town that was without water. That assistance helped provide treatment to patients that needed the life-saving dialysis.

Hale said that everyone in Houston welcomed her and Anderson, expressing gratitude and thanking both of them for their assistance.

“There were many times when someone would tell us to let them know if we needed help with anything,” Hale said. “That was amazing to me as we were there to help them! Overall there was a positive atmosphere in Houston, one of motivation and determination.”

DaVita

DaVita Kidney Care is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita Kidney Care strives to improve patients' quality of life by innovating clinical care, and by offering integrated treatment plans, personalized care teams and convenient health-management services. As of June 30, 2017, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,445 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 194,600 patients. The company also operated 217 outpatient dialysis centers located in 11 countries outside the United States. DaVita Kidney Care supports numerous programs dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change in communities around the world.