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Charlsie M. Estes
About the Author
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, just prior to the civil rights movement and the cultural revolution of the 1960s. I came from a Catholic family with military ties, so exposure to ...view moreAbout the Author
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, just prior to the civil rights movement and the cultural revolution of the 1960s. I came from a Catholic family with military ties, so exposure to different people was the order from day one. I attended Catholic school early in my education, and diversity was present, but the religious ties that bound us made us overlook our outward appearances. When my family sent me and my brother to public school, the controversy over integration did not make sense to me. Today, I’m still quite uncertain why the emphasis is on our physical bodies instead of our inner beauty.
I’ve had the pleasure of working as a nurse in a variety of clinical settings over the past four decades. I’ve had many close encounters with the human condition. I have seen people at their very best and their very worst. The human spirit never ceases to amaze me. I tried to capture the most positive angle of man’s ability to change and grow with God’s help in this writing. I want to touch the lives of those facing seemingly insurmountable odds. Having a hope there is a chance means the difference between life and death. Caring and compassionate individuals do exist. It is especially significant when they understand your predicament. I was born to be a servant; I wear the title with faith and conviction and know this is my purpose. I’m resolute in thinking words matter and the right actions can save.
I too am an alumna of the Place of Hope. In 2003, I was on a trail ride when my horse was attacked by bees and went a little crazy. I jumped off the frantic horse to avoid a tragedy like the one Christopher Reeves suffered. I shattered my left leg and spent six months on crutches or in a wheelchair, underwent two surgeries to insert two plates and ten pins, learned to walk again, and ultimately had to rehab from my rehab. In my pain and loneliness, I turned to alcohol and drugs to manage the devastation. The Place of Hope has a special meaning to me. The lessons I learned and the friendships I built have forever changed my life. I now maintain my connection with the Place of Hope as a volunteer and nurse. I perform and record the tuberculosis skin testing for staff and clients and audit the medical records.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:3–5)view less