Iowa nurse gives up events at home to help others

Leaving Iowa to help with hurricane relief has required some personal sacrifice for an Iowa nurse. Brenda McGraw of Waukee helped in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and is ready to return with a FEMA team once Hurricane Rita moves through. McGraw says leaving will mean missing an important event for her son.She says she missed his homecoming last year on hurricane duty last year, and will miss it again this year. McGraw works as a paramedic for Waukee and is on call on Saturdays and says her son knows that. She says he told her if she needs to go and help others, she should go. McGraw says she talks with her kids before leaving and keeps in touch once she’s out in the field. She says she tries to call and talk to them at night to let them know she’s safe. While she knows she’ll have some long hours in tough conditions, McGraw says she’s not worried for her personal safety. She says FEMA is very protective and won’t put her in an area where she’ll get hurt. McGraw works in the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines when she’s not on hurricane duty.