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Red Cross Helps A Survivor Who Has Unending Perseverance
One man’s resilience keeps him on the path toward recovery
Thursday, September 06, 2007 — Loyalty is important to Russell Parnell. It is one of the defining qualities in his life. It is this sense of loyalty that keeps him living in the house next door to his elderly parents so he is available for them if he is needed. It was that sense of loyalty that compelled Russell to stand in water that reached to his chin for eight hours to keep his three dogs and one cat alive when Katrina came ashore.
Russell Parnell worked with his Red Cross case worker, Genia Crane, to develop a long-term recovery plan and identify resources to rebuild his home.
(Photo Credit: Annie Card/American Red Cross)
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Russell said his faith in loyalty was tested when insurance companies and others who promised help failed him time and time again. The stress started to become unbearable as he moved into a small trailer in front of his house. He started suffering from nightmares. He fought Hurricane Katrina every night in his sleep. He began to wonder if he’d ever recover, emotionally and physically.
Finally, things began to look up and Russell received help from Red Cross Hurricane Recovery Program Client Recovery Specialist Genia Crane. According to Russell, Crane “made recovery a possibility.”
“Nothing happened until Genia came into my life,” Russell said.
With funds from Means to Recovery and Genia’s help Russell’s house is being refurbished by Christian Services, a volunteer group associated with Disciples of Christ churches. Russell has also taken advantage of Access to Care to get counseling for the stress he has been suffering since the hurricane.
Russell will be the first person to tell you that, while his life is not perfect, he remains focused on his path to recovery and makes progress each day, step-by-step. It is through people like Genia Crane and programs like HRP that the Red Cross and its partners continue to restore lives, homes and hope along the Gulf Coast.
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
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