LACA April 2006 - The Lanai Connection

PAGE 8 THE LANA`I CONNECTION
A HURRICANE KATRINA VOLUNTEER
In a heartbeat, Dr. Daniel Anbe who resides in Flint, Michigan, responded to the request from the U.S. Public
Health Service to serve in a free clinic in New Orleans and administer to the medical needs of the hurricane Katrina
victims. Anticipating living on a cruise ship from December 9 to December 22, Dr. Anbe was instead housed in a
cabin 5 feet by 10 feet, on a car ferry cruise ship, without a bathroom.
The clinic was located in Chalmette in St. Bernard Parish which is about twenty miles down the Mississippi River
from downtown New Orleans. He worked with three local physicians, two local nurses, four volunteer doctors
and eight volunteer nurses. The clinic was a triple wide trailer situated in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart store. It
was open 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight, seven days a week. St. Bernard Parish and the 9th Ward were the most
damaged by the flooding.
Dr. Anbe, a retired Cardiologist, assumed the role of a primary care physician. He sutured lacerations, drained
abscesses and saw most of the patients with chest pains. There were several cardiac cases. All those with serious
illnesses were transferred to a hospital in New Orleans. The local hospital had been destroyed.
Dr. Anbe comments, “I was not prepared for the extent of the devastation even though I had seen the pictures on
TV. The people lost not only their property but also their prior lives and for some their future. There were many
people with emotional problems. I also wonder about the impact this catastrophe has on the children. It took me a
while to decompress after two weeks of intense work. For me, it was like returning from a war zone. It was very
gratifying to work with a team of dedicated professionals in a situation of great need.”
Dr. Anbe, an LHES alumnus, class of 1952, was awarded LACA’S 2003 Distinguished Member award. He is one
of LACA’S generous benefactors and belongs to the Lana’i Hale Club. LACA proudly salutes Dr. Daniel Anbe for
his role in helping others in their time of need.
OUTSTANDING PARISH VOLUNTEER
By Gloria Obado Reyes
Sue Obado was one of 96 outstanding parish volunteers honored from parishes throughout
Hawaii at the Island Treasures banquet celebrated at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. More than
1,000 people attended the 9th Annual event, which is sponsored by Catholic Charities of
Hawaii.
Mrs. Obado was honored for her many years of service to her parish community. She has
been an active member of Sacred Hearts Parish, LANA’I & did multiple responsibilities
spanning decades of dedication. She is a kind, gentle, generous, humble & loving woman.
She is a member of the parish pastoral council & is actively involved in parish social ministry.
She is a lecturer, a greeter, helps clean the church, arrange flowers, before she discovered
buying shell leis by the bulk was easier - she use to sew leis every Saturday to present to tourist that attended mass
on Sunday. She coordinates rummage sales for parish fundraising every Saturday & Sunday & gives communion to
the home bound. With all her involvement with the church it has become her second home, despite her biggest
number one responsibility to her husband & my dad - Liberato who is 93 years old.
Granddaughter Sharon Reyes who lives in Colorado says "helping g'ma at the Food Bank is the
only way she can spend time with her whenever she visits." LACA is also blessed to have her on
our team because she is always there to help whenever we have a function on Lana’i. She took
charge of organizing a Food Committee for our last Homecoming Game get together which her
classmate Olivia Lopez Raquino was OUR HOMECOMING QUEEN!!!
Olivia Raquino