Red Cross Volunteer Listened to Grief, Rage

By Maya Dollarhide

WEnews correspondent

Monday, October 29, 2001

Nearly overcome with her own anxiety and sadness, graphic artist Kathryn Carey pleaded to be permitted to help in the catastrophe. She found herself running a center for trauma victims, making sure they knew where to find the help they needed.

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Carey grew up on Long Island, and has lived in Manhattan; she now makes her home in Parkville, Brooklyn. She worked in event planning before eventually learning the craft of graphic design.

Volunteer's Craft of Caring for Others Is Compelling

But the craft of caring for others is compelling. For now, she plans to continue her volunteer work. Starting Nov. 5, Carey will begin a new Red Cross volunteer job down in the respite center at Ground Zero. That's where workers and volunteers themselves go for respite, some quiet time, someone to listen.

She is now prepared to take the time to face her own grief over the loss of her very close friend Eric Eisenberg. They met four years ago at the gym, and now she will attend the memorial service for her friend who was just shy of 33.

Both Carey and Lyons, her firefighter companion, have had trouble sleeping and have been plagued with nightmares. "I've also lost weight," says Carey. "I've lost a lot, a lot of weight. I try to eat, but ... .

"I'm afraid New York will be hit again," she says. "I don't think it's going to happen, but that would be the worst thing."

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Maya Dollarhide is a free-lance writer in Brooklyn.

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