I Am Dr. Ebola for Halloween | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Halloween. Yesterday I may have set a record for "getting costume attention." I became Dr. Ebola!!!!!

    It first started with all the coverage at Emory University over their success treating the first American Doctor who contracted Ebola in West Africa. I have some great sweat gear from Emory that I enjoy wearing in colder weather. My "evil plan" rose first in my head: I should put them on, get some fake blood, and spread it on a cloth and around my mouth. Even better, get some stuff you can spew out when you cough!

    Since having a real temporary stroke at age 50 from stress, I can easily drag around with my right leg and arm swinging. My Grandmother Scarborough had a cerebral hemorrhage and lived with us for several years. She actually did such to the point it is seared into my head. I thought I was going to live the rest of my life dragging around like her, but by the grace of God, mine healed --- and with good therapy I "look normal." When I get tired I start dragging even though back up cells in my head took over the lost part from an ischemic stroke (blood vessels restrict and the small area dies).

    I usually run my "most brilliant" ideas before my sweet wife first. She immediately said, "That is too real right now and you might get arrested! They will carry you to Vidant and isolate you even though it is a prank!"

    My second point of review was my grandson, T.C. Taylor, who is a Senior at Washington High School. I was with my good friend and pastor, Dr. Jimmy Moore, of First Baptist Church. We went over to the coffee shop and there sat my tall grandson! I checked it out with him and he lit up! "PaPa that would scare them to death!" was his wicked-grin response. I was making progress!

    The reason I was with Jimmy Moore was a recent article in my Alumni Magazine over how Emory has successfully treated the most feared man in America, Dr. Kent Brantley. He was on a medical mission and contracted the dread disease. We all have the images from CNN imbedded in our memory. They sent a special plane for isolation, transported him by ambulance from Dobbins AFB to Emory University Hospital, then areal footage showed his walking in an isolation suit from ambulance to the back entrance of the hospital. It was the stuff right out of that horror movie, "Outbreak."

    The copy machine at my church perfectly reproduced the 10-page story of the entire account of success. They kindly made me a number of copies I could share with friends. Now the emergence of "Dr. Ebola" took a local turn. Jimmy and I discussed how a group from our local church is soon journeying to Africa on a repeat ministry they have done many years now. He does the preaching. With him are church members and local medical personnel to help those people in a foreign country. Over the years they have developed deep relationships with the people they see each year. This year, with Ebola raging in Africa, it is far different.

    Everyone is scared --- and for good reason.

    Jimmy is not worried about infection from Ebola because he --- and the people going --- are all aware their destination is at the southern tip of Africa. The epidemic is at the opposite end of the Continent to the north. The distance is as great as between NC and California. The people there mostly walk or take slow buses over 3rd world dirt roads. For them it is not a quick jet flight---rather weeks or months to travel the distance. Already Africa, as a group of nations, has put in stringent rules against travel and contact with anyone having Ebola. The average person in Eastern NC knows little or nothing about the reality of Africa, except those having visited. Jimmy was delighted to have my article to share with anyone contemplating the mission from here.

    What concerns him most is a retired nurse wanting to go. She works part-time at a local restaurant. Already, her boss has told her, "If you go I won't let you work when you come back. Any customers hearing of your mission will not want to eat here for months. They will be afraid of Ebola!" Word always travels fast in Washington! Nobody here wants Ebola. We are so glad the nurse being quarantined and fighting in Court is WAY UP NORTH AND FAR AWAY FROM US!

    This wonderful and caring person is going at her own expense. The church members are raising money to help with cost. In past years a great sense of ministry is present over past reports and good friendships. Jimmy even has Facebook friends there who communicate with him often. The local missionary is telling his converts and townspeople that medical help is coming again soon along with good worship services. There will be medical people from Washington along with average church members, all going for a great cause --- but abject FEAR is about to wreck it this time around! That's not good.

    Those of us watching TV and reading magazines know just enough to be deathly afraid! Many of you are now saying, "I didn't know we were even doing this locally." My old friends from rearing in Atlanta are able to pass by Emory on N. Decatur Road. Their fears are allayed due to local news coverage in a City of some 8+ million people crowded on the expressway and being passed by the caravan headed to Emory --- with lights flashing. It is good news there, but a subject of great fear here!

    Dr. Ebola made his last stop yesterday at our local Vidant Washington hospital. I had a delightful first visit with Penny Coltrain, Director of Human Resources. She has a great southern accent and came from a small town nearby. She was fascinated with the article and other information about our local involvement with Africa soon to take place. She immediately made copies of the article to share with their staff and the main hospital at Greenville. Even though it was the end of her Friday, she was going to scan and send the article over yesterday. Instantly, we are getting prepared for FEAR being replaced with good sense only Eastern NC has in such abundance!

    If you had only read of "Dr. Ebola," you might be scared to death. When you look at his picture and see for yourself---he's not that scary after all! I'm glad I took my wife's advice to dress a little different and focus on education over scaring people to death last night. A good woman keeps a crazy man under "some degree of control!"