Nursing School alumna Jennifer Hall heals the hearts of Iraqi children and their families -- both literally and figuratively.
Hall has been working in Amman, Jordan since October for the philanthropic organization Brothers Together.
Brothers Together finds hospitals around the world that are willing to provide surgery for children with congenital heart disease and then raises the funds to transport them there.
"I decided to volunteer because I believe that there are two things in life that I am supposed to do -- love God and love people," Hall said in an e-mail interview.
She added that she feels thankful for her opportunity to share her life and expertise with Iraqi families, and she feels privileged to be able to help them.
As the sole member of the organization's medical staff in Amman, Hall examines children who have been injured in Iraq, serves as the medical liaison between hospitals and Iraqi doctors and organizes follow-up care. In her spare time she volunteers at a primary-care clinic in another part of the city.
Hall also hosts whichever of the victims' families are traveling through Jordan in her two-bedroom flat, where she takes care of their physical needs and connects them to local Arabic-speaking families for emotional and spiritual support.
In addition to her nursing responsibilities, Hall is also learning how to speak Jordanian Arabic and said that she enjoys experiencing another culture, specifically its traditions and politics.
Although she has helped save lives through Brothers Together and has learned about life outside of America, her job can also involve significant grief -- not all children survive heart surgery.
Once, when a child died after an operation, "it wasn't just that I lost a patient," Hall wrote. "I lost a member of my family."
After arriving at an Indian hospital, the child was so ill that doctors couldn't save her. The loss took its toll on Hall, especially when she witnessed the mother's reaction.
"The way in which the mother mourned is so different than anything I've ever experienced," Hall wrote. "After she viewed her daughter's body, she collapsed on the floor and started beating her arms and legs, and then scratched her face to the point where she had 'tears of blood' dripping down her cheeks. The only thing I could do was to physically restrain her from herself."
Despite the mother's violent mourning, Hall realized that she had touched the mother's heart.
"When she left, she kissed me and embraced me as a family member, and for that, I am grateful," Hall wrote.
