FRIENDS OF HOA KHANH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
FAITH (Isbell) HEITZER, RN
May 26, 2021 - Thank you, Faith, for sharing your memories of HKCH. You arrived after my return to the U.S. in 1970.
(a note from Faith)
"Gwen loved and respected Dr. Shahady and said she learned everything from early doctors and corpsmen. Dr. Johnson took medical charge at the turnover to the World Relief Commission. He passed away shortly after. Corpsmen kept new RN's (Faith & Nancy) from "crashing"!! Doctors Heaster and Blevins took the helm. Gwen was always the essential ingredient!
Dr. Long was welcomed as new WRC Medical Director. Faith and Nancy's 'hooch' was adjacent to the hospital entrance. Vietnamese nurses' hooch was behind that. Corpsmen's (4) hooch was there too. Doctors and family and short term AMA doctors were housed on the opposite side of the hospital. New Navy doctors were doctors Garry Gardner (Chicago Pediatrician - yeah!), Malcolm Edwards, and Tom Wilson. The mix of AMA doctors was very diverse (cardiologist from Washington DC to Psychiatrist! Imagine his task of orientation). AMA gave medical doctors free world trip after their 3 months service at the HKCH!
WRC brought other volunteers on: Dietitian, Bookkeeper, Administrator, Lab Tech, two more RN's (as corpsmen left), a young Mr. & Mrs. team - Dr.'s Dave and Nancy Alarez. After about a year, Dr. Dave died of a virulent pneumonia! Dr. Nancy stayed on, became a great friend to Gwen - very helpful when Gwen came to the U.S./California. Nancy has passed away. Gwen passed away 5 years ago (2016) from a painful heart disease (limited Tx options because of her many medical allergies). Dr. Long just retired (S. Carolina). Little contact with others over the years except for Gwen and Dr. Long."
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