| Outreach into the Shadows...continued
The names and geographical markers mentioned in this story have been changed in order to keep the identities of individuals mentioned in this story confidential.
Two student volunteers from UC Santa Barbara are with us, carrying
clipboards pinning down patient encounter forms. One carries a backpack of their own.
Zipped away inside the backpack are socks, energy bars, and one or two pairs of warm
clothing - the kind of things that are amenities for those living on the streets, but that fill
our own lives in plethora. I am talking with Susan Franks, a registered nurse who is out
with the team for the first time. I am curious about what brought her out into the frigid
winter night and compelled her to try her hand at street medicine. Perry Cabugous trails
behind us, a powerfully built volunteer who provides security for our team. The people
in this group comprise one of two medical teams canvassing downtown Santa Barbara
tonight as part of Doctors Without Walls - Santa Barbara Street Medicine.
We are moving down Haley Street towards State. As we hit the corner of Chappalla,
Jennifer raises her voice towards a slightly built man, with disheveled gray hair. The
stubble on his face is beyond the 5 o'clock shadow of someone who had the luxury of
shaving in the morning. His subtly soiled jeans show their age, ragged and frayed. He is
quietly speaking to himself, lips moving on a stoic face that is mostly devoid of emotion.
In his hand there is a large garbage bag, probably containing all he owns. It falls to the
ground at the sound of Jennifer's voice. The stoic face takes on the faint glow of
recognition, as if some hidden warmth had found an outlet. Jennifer approaches him
under Perry's vigilant gaze.
I know his face - it's not the first time I've seen it. It's the face of Jeremy, a
schizophrenic living on the streets. Tonight he was on his way to the Salvation Army for
shelter until Jennifer called his name and temporarily disrupted his trip. The two talk
now, and I join them. The way that Jeremy speaks reminds me of the way a small child
would speak, innocent and unassuming. His eyes light up like a child's in his interaction
with Jennifer. Jennifer's warm gaze mirrors his own as she talks with him, as most of us
would talk with a good friend. I check with Jeremy to see if he needs any medical care,
but he doesn't have any medical complains at present. Jeremy's main complaint tonight
is a ticket he received from the Santa Barbara PD. He shows the citation to Jennifer. It's
a citation issued under Santa Barbara's sleeping ordinance, which makes it illegal for any
person to sleep on a beach, street, sidewalk, or public way between sunset and 6am. It's
also a citation that Jeremy cannot pay. Before Jeremy continues on his way, Jennifer
gives him a phone number to call. It will put him in touch with someone who can help
him deal with the citations. I shake Jeremy's hand after Jennifer says goodbye. As we
continue to move towards State Street Jennifer gives me a smile and tells me that I should
probably use some of the hand sanitizer we carry in the medical packs.
"Jeremy's hand makes its way to some not-so-clean places sometimes," she says.
A small portion of the gelatinous fluid finds its way into my hands. I rub it in. Vigorously.
....
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