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The family discovered in May that their 12-year-old son’s kidneys were failing and that unless Malcolm IV received dialysis three times a week, he’d die. When Hurricane Katrina headed for New Orleans, young Malcolm and other dialysis patients were urged to come to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans to ride out the storm and make sure they wouldn’t miss the dialysis treatment they needed to survive. Things didn’t go exactly as planned. The levee broke and streets leading to the hospital were flooded. They lost water service and power and the health of the children was suddenly in jeopardy. Alexis Garcia prayed, asking God to please send someone to help them. The next thing she knew, the families were told to pack their things because they were being airlifted out. On the way to the airport, they found out that Children’s Hospital in Houston didn’t have enough room and that they were heading for Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. As far as the Garcia family is concerned, it was the best thing that could have happened. From the moment their plane touched down, they have been overwhelmed by the generosity of strangers. Children’s Mercy took in young Malcolm and 23 other patients without asking who would pay. They set up a dialysis schedule for Malcolm and the staff at Children’s Mercy began working with his family to help them get situated. In their haste to leave, the Garcias left almost everything behind. They brought along one or two changes of clothes, but that was about all. Malcolm III thought he’d be able to go back and forth between the hospital and their house but when the levy broke he was stranded with his wife, son and daughter Aleisha at the hospital. Their flooded car still sits in the parking lot at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. They have no idea what’s left of their house in Jefferson Parish, but they are amazed by the friendliness and generosity of practically everyone they’ve met in Kansas City. After
arranging lodging for the families, Children's Mercy staff then took
them to an
Intake Center set up to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees get the
assistance they needed. At the Center, they were connected to
FEMA and several CFC funded agencies that stepped in to help.
Alexis says, “Catholic Charities paid our first month’s Catholic Charities wasn’t the only non-profit agency pitching in. The American Red Cross paid the second month’s rent and gave the family a $1,200 debit card they could use for essential needs. The Salvation Army provided a $1,000 voucher to buy furniture. They’ve had neighbors and strangers they’ve never met drop off pots and pans, clothing and toys for the kids. The Garcias are amazed at all that’s happened. Nearly two dozen local CFC funded agencies have been involved in helping more than 3,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees who’ve come to our community. They’re thankful to be alive and in a place as friendly and caring as Kansas City. The elder Malcolm says, “People down in New Orleans weren’t that way. It was everybody for themselves and that was before Hurricane Katrina.” Nevertheless, the elder Malcolm Garcia is returning to his job in the shipbuilding yards of New Orleans because he couldn’t find a job in Kansas City that paid as well. The rest of the family is planning on staying for at least a year. They are afraid that with all the mold and bacteria in New Orleans, it won’t be safe for someone like young Malcom whose kidneys don’t work. Tests have shown that the elder Malcolm is a tissue match for his son and he is planning to donate one of his kidneys soon. He wants the operation done in Kansas City because he trusts the hospital and the doctors and believes it will be much safer. In the meantime, the Garcias are extremely grateful for all the help they’ve received and they are convinced more than ever that God works in mysterious ways. |
A
month ago, Malcolm and Alexis Garcia never dreamed their family
would end up living in Kansas City, relying on the kindness of
strangers. They lived in a small but comfortable rental house,
close to their parents on the outskirts of New Orleans.
Malcolm was a union member, making $17.50 an hour, working as a
sandblaster and painter in the shipbuilding yards south of New
Orleans. Life was fairly routine, but an unexpected family
illness and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina changed everything.
rent,
gave us clothes to wear and helped us get settled. But what
happened next actually made me cry. Knowing that we had to get
Malcolm over to Children’s Mercy Hospital three times a week for
dialysis, they gave us a car.” It was a 2000 Dodge Neon that
someone had donated. But they didn’t stop there.
Catholic Charities paid to have the car inspected and licensed, paid
for insurance and gas and even bought new tires. Then they
took the family shopping for groceries, buying $600 worth of food.