We are blessed
Guest Column by Norma HaynesSpecial to The Newnan Times-Herald
It has been almost one year since I walked through the doors of the Coweta Samaritan Clinic on Jackson Street in Newnan. I was so excited to be a part of this ministry, which is truly an amazing thing. The building is awesome, to say the least. Who would have thought such a grand building would be made available for such a worthy cause? To think we are able to use this building is overwhelming.
The clinic is made up of all volunteers who give unselfishly of their time and their talents. I consider myself so fortunate to watch these talented people use their talents to help all who come through the doors. I am such a very small part of this operation and truly, at times, feel unworthy to be there. My computer skills were almost nil, but they have improved a little as the year has passed, and truly the only job I am really capable of doing is smiling and greeting those who come to sign in for their appointments.
These doctors, in my opinion, are truly angels sent from God. So many times, all a patient really wants is to have a doctor or a nurse look into his/her eyes and say, “I will do what I can to help you.”
The nurses are always smiling and always compassionate, never hurried. I see them as angels also. We have the kindest, most caring lab technicians, who make their patients feel so comfortable as they await that inevitable needle stick.
One of my duties at the front desk is to answer the telephone. How wonderful it must be for those who call to speak to a “person.” They do not have to listen to a recording or punch numbers.
Technology is great, but getting to speak to a human being is almost unheard of these days. When I answer the phone, I put a smile on my face and a smile in my voice, and I try to reassure the party on the other end of the line that we will take care of the needs as soon as possible.
When patients come to the desk to make a return appointment, most of them are smiling and remarking that they love “their” doctor, and they feel so blessed to have someone to care for them who truly cares.
As the year has passed, we have been able to add a few more doctors on irregular schedules, and we are blessed that we have a volunteer nutritionist, ob-gyn specialist and a neurologist. We also have a wonderful counselor. I have probably left out someone, but it is not intentional because every single person is necessary to make this clinic successful.
One of the badly-needed services we have been unable to provide is dental. I pray that one day that, too, will be a part of the clinic.
People have been so very generous in donating to our clinic, but what we really need are more doctors to come in and help us treat these deserving people. I have learned from talking with the doctors there that it is so gratifying to know that they are helping someone less fortunate than themselves. We volunteers are the ones who are receiving the most blessings, and we all feel that way.
I am so grateful to Dr. Kay Crosby and the others who had this vision and who have allowed me to be a tiny part of the healing of many. As we approach the first anniversary of the opening of the Coweta Samaritan Clinic, I praise the Lord for blessing us with such caring volunteers, and I thank Him that I am a very small part. I look forward to “going to work” every week.
