A True "Trip of a Lifetime"

For many, taking that trip of a lifetime means doing or seeing something extraordinary that you could never do or see at home. For others, it means totally relaxing on a beach somewhere, and still others want to indulge the urge for big adventure. For Northside Nurse Katrina Denson, the trip of a lifetime was all about helping others.

Katrina, a clinical nurse manager at the Women’s Center in Atlanta, traveled 7,600 miles to Uganda as part of a trip organized by her cousin and his non-profit group, The Soul of My Footprint, which has been bringing shoes, clothes and dental supplies to people there for the last seven years or so.

When her cousin mentioned taking a medical team this year, Katrina jumped on board–and it changed her life. In the places they visited, Katrina saw true poverty and conditions she could only describe as “heartbreaking.” For a nurse who cares so much about how others feel, it was hard to keep from tearing up.

When Katrina helped people, either by handing out shoes or giving them basic medical care, she saw how grateful everyone was–and how much little things we take for granted meant to them. Realizing she was making a difference made her feel “joyous.”

Now Katrina is a Northsider on a mission. She’s already planning to return to Uganda next year and has started collecting money and supplies for her 2018 visit.

I am so proud to work with Katrina. She epitomizes the spirit of Northside and our drive to help change things for the better. She’s an example for me, all of us here at Northside, and everyone in this community. She went the extra mile (7,600 of them to be exact) so she could make a positive impact!

You can watch a great video of her experience at https://vimeo.com/237580455. To find out more about The Soul of My Footprint, visit tsomf.org or email [email protected].

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