Tell us a little about yourself. What is your background and where are you from?

I have lived in Colorado all my life. I love the mountains and enjoy urban wildlife, walking, spending time with friends, reading, and knitting.

I work as a victim advocate/legal advocate serving survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, and human trafficking at a small non-profit, dividing my time between providing direct services and training for our advocacy team. I also provide training for other service providers in the community. I feel very strongly that no survivor of violence should have to feel they are alone in dealing with the trauma effects or finding a path to healing. This passion also motivates me to volunteer my skills and time in Ukraine.

How did you hear about Global Care Force?

The day after the full-scale invasion, I searched for organizations providing direct services in Ukraine. I sent hundreds of emails and asked everyone I could think of for leads to connect to service providers. Unfortunately, most of the organizations I found were either not providing direct services or needed people who could make long term time commitments. I found an organization providing services to Ukrainian refugees in Moldova and volunteered there in 2022 and 2023, but it was mainly providing administrative support.

When I found Global Care Force I was overjoyed. I was initially impressed with the fact that they truly provide direct services in areas where it is most needed. I became even more impressed with the organization’s values, commitment to serving those in most need, and the care they take with every logistical aspect of volunteering.

You will return to Ukraine in November for the third time this year to volunteer. Why do you keep returning?

The short answer is that there is a huge need for services there, and I can see, hear, and feel the difference that the medical and trauma support services make for the people we get to serve.

To illustrate a little better, the second day in the field of my first trip, in February, was a very full day (as is typical). We visited small villages hit hard by the war. There was little or no infrastructure and no health services left. Global Care Force was the only source for care. I saw the difference it made to talk with people, hear their stories, share information on trauma and ways to cope with it.

That night was noisy with air alerts. Sometime in the wee hours, I thought, “I need to tell Roxanne (Global Care Force Vice President of Global Programs) to sign me up to come back. If the situation here is this uncomfortable for me, what must it be like for the people dealing with this the whole time? Nobody should feel alone or forgotten in the midst of this.” So, the next morning, I told Roxanne to sign me up to return.

My second trip was even more powerful and humbling in providing trauma support. And the team in Ukraine (who already felt like dear friends) began to feel like family. At the start of the second trip, I knew I wanted to keep returning. I signed up for November.

You provided trauma counseling at the Mobile Medical Clinics in Ukraine. Can you give us an example of how trauma manifests itself in the patients you have met with during your volunteer service?

Trauma can show up in many ways, and I have seen a wide variety of effects and symptoms in the patients I’ve met with. The symptoms or effects can include anxiety, sleeplessness, irritation and anger, nightmares, flashbacks, dissociation, crying or feeling numb or overwhelmed, lack of concentration or focus, racing thoughts or repetitive thoughts and images are all common ways that trauma shows up.

Symptoms may also include trembling, unsteadiness, pounding heart, headache, nausea or other GI upset, shallow or fast breathing, physical pain and tension, feeling constriction in chest, throat, stomach, etc.

The confusing and often overwhelming array of trauma effects can, in themselves, be frightening, especially when a person doesn’t know any of the reasons for why they are feeling the way they feel. Many of the patients I’ve met with were beginning to doubt their sanity or said they don’t feel like themselves, and that adds another layer to the anxiety they are feeling.

Trauma effects can also exacerbate ongoing health conditions. Providing trauma support in tandem with the medical team is wonderful, as patients have a chance to address both aspects of their well-being.

Any stories you can share, whether a patient or staff member that impacted you? What memories will stay with you?

There are so many powerful stories of the horrific situations people have endured and continue to endure, but also stories of tremendous courage, strength, resourcefulness, love, and caring.

At one village, a woman asked for trauma support before meeting with the doctors. She wept, sharing she cried constantly, slept only a few hours a night, and suffered from nightmares. She feels anxious and afraid all the time.

I asked if she wanted to share some of what happened. She paused momentarily and then explained she fled Bakhmut as Russian forces occupied the city, adding the assault on Bakhmut had been relentless. She cried harder and shared, “My youngest daughter, who was only in her 20s, died a few years ago. She is buried in Bakhmut. Now, the entire city has been flattened. Bakhmut is completely gone. My daughter’s grave is completely gone. I don’t know if the graveyard even exists in any recognizable form. There is nothing left of Bakhmut, nothing.”

I took her hand, offering comfort as she recounted her daily visits to her daughter’s grave, where she would clean it, leave flowers and speak to her. Through tears, she said, “Now, there is no grave, no place to go.”

I acknowledged her immense pain – losing her daughter and the place where she could honor her, as well as the loss of her home and friends. After a few quiet moments, I asked her about her favorite memories of her beautiful daughter. She smiled softly and described her daughter as an angel – kind, loving. It was clear how deeply she cherished those memories. I thanked her for sharing some of her memories, and we talked about how she holds her daughter in her heart, even without having the physical place to go to and visit.

As she grew calmer, we talked about how people cope with trauma, loss, and grief, and all the emotions that can come up. I noticed her breathing slowed, her hands steadied, and her tears lessened. I shared techniques for managing anxiety, such as breathing and grounding exercises, and encouraged her to express her emotions through writing or art.

At that moment, the doctor was ready to see her. Before leaving, she hugged me twice, expressing gratitude for our conversation.

What impact has volunteering had on your life?

I knew from past experiences that volunteering abroad is a wonderful way to meet people and learn more about the world. My experience volunteering in Ukraine with Global Care Force re-affirms that, but it also includes much more. Volunteering is life-changing for me, enriching my life every day and opens my eyes to new ideas. Visiting a place is great, but when volunteering, I get to see more of what life is like for people and learn more of their concerns, joys, history, traditions, etc.

It is the difference between looking at a picture of the woods and actually feeling the tree bark under your hands, hearing the birds, feeling the rocks under your feet and smelling the scent of leaves, streams, moss, and fresh air. The felt experience is powerful and remains long after the experience itself.

If someone is considering volunteering with Global Care Force, what would you tell them?

Do it! If you allow yourself to be curious and open to the experience, it will be life-changing. You will get to learn rich and wonderful aspects of different cultures. You will have the chance to form amazing new friendships, and the experiences will continue to ripple through your life long afterward!

Ask questions, have fun, and be prepared to follow the guidelines. They are there for a reason. Be prepared to be tired at the end of each day and have your heart filled to overflowing.

Anything else about your experience with GCF you would like to share?

The more I learn about Global Care Force and the more I participate, the more I appreciate them as an organization. Everyone with GCF embodies the values of service, kindness and generosity.