Retired Chicago Nurse To Travel To Liberia
(CBS) – Rising fears about Ebola is not stopping a local health professional from traveling overseas to help West Africans cope with the deadly virus.
South Sider resident Larry Turner is 65, a retired registered nurse and clinical psychologist, is preparing to leave Sunday.
He's headed for ground-zero in the battle against Ebola: the West African nation of Liberia. He's going with the group Partners in Health.
"I hope to be able to provide some medical care and provide some psychological services to the residents of Liberia," Turner tells CBS 2's Mike Parker.
That means maybe even sharing a laugh or two.
"Laughter is really important," he says.
Turner learned that lesson on his last mission of mercy -- volunteering to help out after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.
"It wasn't all just trauma. I got a chance to work with the children, do a little yoga with them, make them laugh," he says.
Turner says helping out in Liberia may be the last big international mission in his life of service.
Before he arrives in Africa, Dr. Turner will travel first to Alabama to be trained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
He says he's ready to spend 21 days in isolation at home, if he has to, when he comes back.