I want to say first of all, our trip to NY was the most rewarding journey of my life so far. I love all of you and thank you for letting me be a part of the team.

During the time of the WTC attack on 9/11 our CERMT Team was getting prepared for Hurricane season in NC working directly with NC CISM Team. Doug E. contacted me and asked me to get to work on fundraisers with professional MT's and students from the school in Raleigh, because we were going to NY. Needless to say we raised the money, thanks to lots of hard work from everyone with hands on contributions and donations from all over the country. To try and keep this as short as possible, I will talk about one experience I had because I could never tell you everything without writing a book. Trying to remember all the workers we touched, one man stands out in my mind. On Wednesday night of our week in NY, while working at the Medical Examiners office, it was getting late and everyone had left except Laura and I. It was time for us to leave and believe me, I was ready to have a long nap. I walked around the corner of the tent we were working in and saw this man sitting slumped over and dirty. He looked up at me with this very long face, it looked to me like he only had enough strength to lift his eyes to see me. I asked him if he needed bodywork and he guiltily said, " yes are you about to leave?" I said of course not and instructed him to come and lie down on the table and I started praying, Dear Lord what can I do to help this man? How is 20 minutes going to make a difference for him? I should never question the power of touch because it always amazes me that even 5 minutes makes a difference. I worked on him for a while and we never spoke, when it was finished I stepped out and waited for him to come out. When I saw him walk around the corner he looked like a different person. He thanked me and we talked for a moment he hugged me briefly and he left. All I could do was cry and thank God that I can be a part of that. I am so very grateful for the people that sat in the massage chair and felt safe enough to share some of their stories with me. I am still overflowing with thoughts and emotions of our wonderful journey and I will go back anytime that I am needed. Everyone of the people that we came in contact with, not just through massage but also walking in the streets, on the subway entered my spirit and will be with me forever. All I have left to say is God bless all of the rescue workers for what you are doing and you will never be forgotten.

Karen Venable, LMBT
Carolina Emergency Response Massage Team, State Coordinator