Volunteer Spotlight MMC Magazine 2015

Medical Mercy Canada • 2015 • medicalmercycanada.org16

Laura Karlssonby Silvia Pikal

When Laura Karlsson began volunteering with MMC a decade ago, she did not anticipate how quickly her home would

be overrun with medication and other supplies for trips overseas. When she first spoke to Dr. Myron Semkuley to enquire about travelling with the organization, Myron asked Laura to commit to volunteering in Calgary first, before accompanying MMC on a mission. When she met the Semkuleys in person, they quickly put her to work.

“They had two carloads of goods for me to take home and deal with,” Laura said. “I burst out laughing on Macleod Trail as I travelled home with the first carload. I thought he was talking a box or two of medications.”

Laura started with compacting medications for trips overseas, which involved squeezing 10 sleeves of medication into one small package.

“I had tingling in my fingers from opening so many packages,” Laura said, laughing at the recollection of her early days with MMC.

Quickly realizing this was more than a one-woman job, Laura called on some friends to help.

“I had my neighbour come, who was a nurse, and I gathered more and more friends,” Laura said. “Sometimes I had 12 people in my house and I was the runner between the dining room table, coffee table, kitchen table and people outside unpacking boxes. I would make homemade soup and muffins and feed them.”

The operation quickly took over the laundry room, part of the garage and her daughter’s old bedroom. Afraid she would run out of space, she called Myron: “You do have a warehouse, do you think I could move this operation out to the warehouse?” At that point the operation moved to the warehouse permanently.

In 2006, after volunteering for a year with MMC as the medications coordinator in Calgary, Laura travelled to Ukraine with the MMC team and worked with a village physician. She also travelled with Myron and Elaine delivering medical supplies and checking on several projects.

“I lived with the doctor and assisted with clinics at the hospital and went on home visits to terminal patients,” Laura said. “We didn’t have a car, and there was only a horse to use at the small

hospital. MMC put in a flush toilet and a shower at the hospital but the doctor had no indoor plumbing. I walked to the hospital and that’s where I showered. There was a pump in the middle of the yard and you hauled water into the

house to make pierogies. I tried to make pierogies but the baba fired me because I

made them too big!”

Laura continued to work as the medications coordinator until two and a half years ago, when

she took on an additional role as the volunteer coordinator of the board; organizing volunteers for

the casino, gala and other MMC events. When the warehouse manager left her position, Laura took on a third responsibility.

“Laura shows incredible dedication to all the roles she has taken on within MMC,” said Joanne Neweduk, president for MMC. “For many years, she has been intimately involved in many aspects of our organization: running the warehouse, collecting and shipping supplies, serving on the board, coordinating our volunteers and travelling overseas. Her infectious laughter makes it a delight to work with her on any project.”

“I like to work with people,” Laura said. “I have a passion for this organization and my own job. I’ve been a bone marrow transplant coordinator since 1989, so I’m used to organizing and teaching people, and working with interdisciplinary teams.”

Volunteer SpotlightVolunteer Spotlight

Laura Karlsson and a friend.

Medical Mercy Canada • 2015 • medicalmercycanada.org 17

Among her favourite fun memories with MMC, one that stands out is a surprise anniversary party in Ukraine.

“I had a wedding anniversary when I was over there and I happened to tell the team in the morning,” Laura said. “They had a big party for me. They baked bread with a candle in it and made a nice dinner. Then we danced with the people we were staying with. It was a huge celebration. That night I was trying to phone my husband and I had to take my international phone and walk to the top of a hill to get through to him. It was so much fun.”

Citing a passion for travel, Laura also travelled to Nepal in 2012 with her daughter. While there, they volunteered at a health camp and visited the oncology unit at Kanti Children’s Hospital in Kathmandu.

“I feel I’ve been lucky living in Canada,” Laura said. “This is my way to give back. And I keep volunteering with MMC because of the big team of people that help me with the supplies. They’ve been coming for years to support it.”

Laura Karlsson is stepping down from the board as volunteer coordinator and warehouse manager but will stay on as medications coordinator. MMC would like to thank her for all of her service and her years on the board.

Laura’s love of travel, working with people and giving back to the community has kept her volunteering with MMC year after year.

Packing days at the warehouse. Laura Karlsson assisting with medical care in Ukraine.

Laura Karlsson and her daughter at a health camp in Nepal.