Young Heroes: A Volunteer Extraordinaire

A Somali woman supports a boy's tiny frame in her arms. His heavy eyelids and listless body imply a story of pain and suffering. She has traveled 800 km and waited four months in an unfamiliar city seeking a cure. Her words come to us clearly through the adept translation of Kristen Straw.

This small blond haired white woman in her jeans and ponytail might fool the casual onlooker, but not for long. She's a formidable personality. She interacts with these parents and their children with an ease that suggests a much-earned familiarity. She jokes with a young boy and pats him on the head. He giggles and revels in her attention.

Kristen's facility with Amharic comes from living in Ethiopia for the last one and a half years as a peace corps volunteer. The niece of one of the WSF surgical nurses she was recruited for her talents as a translator and her intimate knowledge of the country and its people.

It is always remarkable how a noble cause inspires the spirit of volunteerism. The WSF missions call for all types of service. Even though physicians and other medical professionals provide the majority of the services needed, lay people are indispensable. Some volunteers are trained to assist with the sterilization of equipment while others liaison with local aids to get lunch to the mission volunteers.

Momentarily, relief washes over the Somali woman's face. Someone has listened. Someone has understood.