By Palashpriya Bhattacharyya, Northwest Region

When disaster struck Illinois after devastating tornadoes tore through communities this spring, Christine never imagined her first American Red Cross deployment would also become one of the most meaningful experiences she would ever share with her mother, Kathleen.

Within 24 hours of receiving the call, the pair boarded a plane-each assigned a different role but united by the same purpose: helping people rebuild after disaster.

"We had just been talking about deploying together," Christine recalled. "Then we got the call, and within 24 hours we were on the plane. It happened so quickly."

Although they traveled together, their assignments quickly took them in different directions.

Christine served on a Disaster Emergency Supplies (DES) team, driving through tornado-affected neighborhoods, meeting homeowners, distributing emergency supplies and connecting families with Red Cross resources. Kathleen fulfilled a longtime goal of serving on a Disaster Assessment team, documenting damage that would help determine eligibility for financial assistance.

"Every day was different," Kathleen said. "We went to a different area, recording the damage. That information helps determine whether people qualify for financial assistance."

For Christine, no two days looked alike.

"My partner and I would leave early in the morning," she said. "Sometimes we'd drive two and a half hours to reach the communities. We didn't have set distribution points-we followed the tornado's path, stopping at damaged homes and asking families if they needed supplies."

Along the way came moments neither of them will ever forget.

At one home, an older man approached their emergency response vehicle after accidentally driving a nail through his hand while clearing debris.

"He asked if we had a first aid kit," Christine said. "My partner knew I was a nursing student and said, 'She'll take care of you.'"

Christine cleaned and bandaged the wound before encouraging him to get a tetanus shot and visit an urgent care clinic.

Later in her deployment came another first. One that had nothing to do with medicine.

"I got my first-ever hug from a client," Christine said. "My mom has always told me about getting your first hug as a Red Cross volunteer and how emotionally rewarding it is. To have someone crying and hugging you because you really made their day. That was something so special."

As a nursing student halfway through her Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, Christine said the deployment reinforced why she chose healthcare in the first place.

"I get to be that light in people's lives," she said.

While the destruction left a lasting impression, so did the resilience of the Illinois communities.

"There could be two houses only ten yards apart," Christine said. "One would be perfectly fine, and the other completely destroyed."

Yet what stood out most wasn't the damage.

"The community was absolutely amazing," she said. "Within hours, neighbors were helping each other clean up debris. We were offered lunch four or five times by people who had just lost so much themselves. It's hard to put into words how generous and kind they were."

Kathleen shared that same sense of awe.

"When you see a house with no roof, you realize someone's entire year has suddenly changed," she said. "Your neighbor's house might be okay, but yours is gone. You think, 'How do you even begin to come back from this?'"

The deployment also gave Kathleen the opportunity to see her daughter in a new light.

"It was really amazing watching her work with the other volunteers," Kathleen said. "She wasn't my little girl anymore. She was interacting with clients, stepping up and going above and beyond. She was just another incredible volunteer."

Christine said the experience also challenged her personally.

"I like routines," she admitted. "I like knowing what the plan is. But on deployment, there really isn't a routine. We often didn't know what we were doing the next day until seven in the morning. I had to learn to go with the flow."

Both say that flexibility-and a willingness to serve wherever needed-is what makes volunteering with the Red Cross so meaningful.

"If you've got the desire to serve, you already have the skills," Kathleen said. "The Red Cross will teach you everything else. There is always a place for someone."

Christine agreed.

"The Red Cross will find a place for you," she said. "There are so many roles people don't even know exist."

More importantly, she believes volunteering has strengthened her faith in people.

"When we're out in the world, we see a lot of difficult things," she said. "But when we go on deployments and help people face-to-face, it restores my sense of humanity. It reminds me there are amazing people who simply want to help one another."

For Kathleen, sharing that mission alongside her daughter was the greatest reward of all.

"It was an honor to serve next to her," she said. "We hope we get to do it again."