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whatdifcultieswemaybefacinginourownlifethereareNursingatEmoryUniversityandtookherrstpositionasaAddinalovefortravelandAnitasneedtollanemptyingherrsttriptoKosovoin2007followedbytwotripstomissions.Atwo-weekprogramtherstweekofthetripbyJudyLeJeunephotographycourtesyofAnitaRichSharingKnowledgeHopeAsachildAnitaRichlivedinmanydifferentcitiesintheUnitedStatesinKoreaandinGermany.Be-causeherfatherwasanengineerinthearmytheirfamilywasconstantlybeingrelocated.DuringthattimeofconstantchangetwothingsinAnitasliferemainedper-manentthelovethatshereceivedfromherfamilyandherdesiretobecomeanurse.AnitasgrandmotherthemotherofninechildrenandapediatricnurseinspiredinAnitaadesiretosharewhatwasinherheartwithothersbybeingthereforpatientsastheirnurse.ShetaughtmemoreaboutwhatbeinganursemeansthananyoftheclassesthatIevertooksaidAnita.Herheartwassofullofloveandconcern.Shetaughtmethatnomatterpeoplethatarehurtingandwehavethegiftofbeingabletohelp.Givingpatientsloveandcomfortalongwiththeirmedicalcareisthetruegiftofbeingabletohelpothers.WhenAnitawasinmiddleschoolherfatherretiredfromthearmyandthefamilysettledinAtlanta.SheattendedandgraduatedfromtheNellHodgsonWoodruffSchoolofnurseintheBoneMarrowTransplantDepartmentatEmoryUniversityHospital.AfterthreeyearsAnitatransferredtotheMedicalCardiologyDepartmentwhereshehasworkedforthepast27years.Thoughdeeplycommittedtoherprofessionworkingasanursefor30yearsstillleftAnitawithadesiretovolunteerhernursingskillsandtosharetheloveinherheartwithpeopleinneedaroundtheworld.spacewhenherdaughterAnnaleftforcollegeandshebegantoseekoutwaysthatshecouldhelpthoseinneedtraveltofaroffplacesanddevelopherselfbyspendingtimevolunteering.AnitaheardaboutChildrensHeartProjectCHPapro-gramofSamaritansPursethatbringschildrenwithheartdefectsfromothercountrieswherethemedicalexpertiseandequipmenttohelpthemarenotavailabletohospi-talsinNorthAmericaforlife-savingsurgery.CHPhasper-formedmorethan700operationssince1997forchildrenwhohavebeenbroughttohospitalsinNorthAmericafromBosniaKosovoHondurasUgandaMongoliaandBolivia.Thechildrentheirmothersandaninterpreterareaccom-paniedonthetripoverforsurgerybyanurse.Aftercon-tactingCHPapplyingandbeingacceptedAnitahasbeenvolunteeringasaCHPnurseforthepastfouryearsmak-MongoliaatriptoUgandaandatriptoHonduras.Inaddi-tiontoAnitasCHProleshealsoparticipatesinForHeartsandSoulsaprogramthatconductssearchingmendingAnitaparticipatesinthesearchforpatientswithcongenitalNursesHearttoHeartCountyLineAugust2011www.CountyLineMagazine.net8