Meet Our New Volunteer: Carrie Flaherty
Meet one of our amazing volunteers, Carrie Flaherty! She studied Nursing at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, graduating in 2010 with a BSN. After working for two years on a telemetry unit, she spent the last 5 years working nights in the Emergency Department at a trauma center in the Bronx. She likes the challenge of the ED, but her true love is mission work- she volunteers at a free clinic in the South Bronx and has been on short term missions to Haiti and Honduras. She enjoys coffee, crosswords, and cats. We are so lucky to have Carrie join our CMMB family! Read on to learn more about Carrie, what inspires her, and her interests and skills that she will share in South Sudan!
Where is home: I am a native New Yorker- I was born in Brooklyn, grew up in Queens, and am now living in the Bronx.
CMMB Volunteer Post: Registered Nurse at St. Theresa Hospital in Nzara, South Sudan
If you were asked to sum yourself up in two words, which two would you choose? Calm and Dedicated.
Why CMMB: I am interested in volunteering with CMMB because I feel called to serve people who are materially poor and do not otherwise have access to quality healthcare. I want to live out my faith and the call of the gospel in my vocation as a nurse. I want to serve with an organization that does not focus only on numbers, but believes in cherishing each life and recognizing the dignity of each person. I like that CMMB works with the most disadvantaged populations around the world, and not only provides aid, but sets up sustainable programs.
What are you most proud of? Learning to ‘roll with the punches’ and remain level-headed in the face of emergencies.
Imagine you are stuck in an elevator. Who would you most like to be stuck with? And why? My twin sister, Theresa. An elevator is not so small a space when compared with sharing a womb. I’m sure we could keep each other entertained or even work out a rescue plan together.
What would be your theme song? “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons.
Imagine if you were an animal- which would you be and why? A cat. It is who it is without asking for anyone’s permission or approval. Always landing on your feet is a useful skill too.
What is your favorite quote? “If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze.” — St Catherine of Siena
What book should everyone read? The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. There is so much truth hidden in those books that applies to real life.
What is your hope for the future? I hope to see that quality healthcare will be provided to those who do not have access.
Favorite speech or Tedtalk: “The Power of Vulnerability” by Brene Brown
If you could solve one word problem, what would it be? I would want every person to know their dignity and worth as a child of God. If everyone knew this, it would solve all their other problems.
What are the three things you are most grateful for?
- Knowing the love of God and the people who have awakened my heart to this reality
- My life
- My family
Who is your biggest inspiration? Why? St. Teresa of Calcutta. She literally changed the world, one person at a time. I remember watching a documentary about her when I was a child, which showed footage of her feeding an emaciated man, using her hands to scoop the rice into his mouth. I was disgusted, but at the same time fascinated, and I couldn’t look away. I remember thinking that was the last thing I would ever want to do with my life. Luckily, the Lord has worked on my heart since then and I am eager to follow in her footsteps.