Blood, sweat, and tears
The team of therapists (Karen - OT, Kristin - OT, and Cristina- PT)
Kenol doing residual limb desensitization in a bucket of beans
Hanging out at the Chilean's house after a night of laughing and talking on the roof (Alejandro - Doctor, Natalia -Dentist, Paloma- midwife, and Julio- Doctor)
Having a Basketball game with our patients!
Alejandro and Natalia with Mandfred after the basketball game
Erica (the new OT that just arrived) and I on my last night in Haiti.Our patient, Saladin with Karen (OT), Cristina (PT), and myself before he was discharged to go home for the first time since March!
Today I am departing Haiti after spending one month here. I absolutely don't want to leave, but with my sister having a baby very soon- I also want to be there for that! On Monday of this week, a new OT arrived that will be replacing myself and the other therapists. Like me, she has also spent time volunteering as an OT in Africa (Uganda and Malawi)!! It's crazy because we have had very similar experiences and very similar hearts! It makes me want to stay here and work with her for the next three months. She is also from the suburbs of Chicago- it's crazy how much we have in common, so I think I found my new travel buddy!
We discharged a group of 6 of our patients the day before last. It was more emotional than I thought it would be! We gave them little gifts to remember us by, and received warm tearful hugs and so much gratitude! Some of these patients have had their home at the facility since march because their injuries were so severe. Saladin was non-ambulatory and very weak when he arrived there. I was told he was the only person in his engineering building at the university in port au prince that survived the earthquake. He left a new man and ready to begin life as a student again after visiting his family.
On Wednesday of this week , I went with 6 of our patients with amputations to a clinic set up by the Hanger-Sabel Foundation. Hanger is a well known prosthetic company in the US. 4 of our patients got measured and casted for their new prosthetics, which will be ready In 2 weeks. Unfortunately arm prosthetics are all on hold in Haiti right now, but the patients who will be receiving new legs were all very happy. Mandfred told me he can't wait to play soccer again and Sainvil told me thar he's so excited to walk everywhere! It was neat to see them so happy. The prosthetist there was American and she taught some really important stretches and range of motion exercises to help the patients prepare for a prosthetic. I'm really learning so much here as a therapist!
We have been having way too much fun this week. Two doctors from the US came, along with their children- and a social work student, and a guy making a documentary on the clinic also came. They arrived in time to help us throw a basketball game with our patients and Alejandro (a visiting seminary student from Mexico) helped Karen (another therapist make treats for the party). It was so good to see everyone smiling and laughing. Natalia (dentist from chile), Alejandro and Julio (doctors from chile) also came to celebrate with us! We ended our day playing futbol together! They, along with Paloma(midwife from chile) have become my running buddies! They have motivated me to run with them before we start work in the morning, which has been so enjoyable to run again and get up early when it's not as hot! But don't worry there is still plenty of sweating pretty much all the day long- which unfortunately forced me to shower much more than I normally like to do :)!
I'm going to miss this! I'm going to miss working with the patients, hearing their stories, walking with new friends in the streets after work, running in the morning with new friends, playing futbol and basketball with people from all over the world, laughing at the communication barriers and my attempt at speaking creole, sitting on the roof with the Chileans on breezy nights, hearing about cultures all over the world, dancing and singing with Tony and Alejandro and our patients, drinking Haitian rum made with sugar cane mixed with mango or pineapple juice while playing a new haitian card game that the girls in the kitchen taught us, laughing about our funny patients and going on weekend outings with Karen and Cristina, and all the people I came in contact with each day who all greeted me with such warmth.
I can tell you that I won't miss all my bug bites that I itch until they bleed. I won't miss sharing my room with tarantulas and cock roaches. I won't miss the smell of exhaust, garbage everywhere, and roads full of potholes. But I will leave feeling so grateful for this blessed life that I live and the opportunities I have been given. And I am so thankful to God for keeping me safe and giving me purpose! Signing off in Haiti. Orevwa.
Today I am departing Haiti after spending one month here. I absolutely don't want to leave, but with my sister having a baby very soon- I also want to be there for that! On Monday of this week, a new OT arrived that will be replacing myself and the other therapists. Like me, she has also spent time volunteering as an OT in Africa (Uganda and Malawi)!! It's crazy because we have had very similar experiences and very similar hearts! It makes me want to stay here and work with her for the next three months. She is also from the suburbs of Chicago- it's crazy how much we have in common, so I think I found my new travel buddy!
We discharged a group of 6 of our patients the day before last. It was more emotional than I thought it would be! We gave them little gifts to remember us by, and received warm tearful hugs and so much gratitude! Some of these patients have had their home at the facility since march because their injuries were so severe. Saladin was non-ambulatory and very weak when he arrived there. I was told he was the only person in his engineering building at the university in port au prince that survived the earthquake. He left a new man and ready to begin life as a student again after visiting his family.
On Wednesday of this week , I went with 6 of our patients with amputations to a clinic set up by the Hanger-Sabel Foundation. Hanger is a well known prosthetic company in the US. 4 of our patients got measured and casted for their new prosthetics, which will be ready In 2 weeks. Unfortunately arm prosthetics are all on hold in Haiti right now, but the patients who will be receiving new legs were all very happy. Mandfred told me he can't wait to play soccer again and Sainvil told me thar he's so excited to walk everywhere! It was neat to see them so happy. The prosthetist there was American and she taught some really important stretches and range of motion exercises to help the patients prepare for a prosthetic. I'm really learning so much here as a therapist!
We have been having way too much fun this week. Two doctors from the US came, along with their children- and a social work student, and a guy making a documentary on the clinic also came. They arrived in time to help us throw a basketball game with our patients and Alejandro (a visiting seminary student from Mexico) helped Karen (another therapist make treats for the party). It was so good to see everyone smiling and laughing. Natalia (dentist from chile), Alejandro and Julio (doctors from chile) also came to celebrate with us! We ended our day playing futbol together! They, along with Paloma(midwife from chile) have become my running buddies! They have motivated me to run with them before we start work in the morning, which has been so enjoyable to run again and get up early when it's not as hot! But don't worry there is still plenty of sweating pretty much all the day long- which unfortunately forced me to shower much more than I normally like to do :)!
I'm going to miss this! I'm going to miss working with the patients, hearing their stories, walking with new friends in the streets after work, running in the morning with new friends, playing futbol and basketball with people from all over the world, laughing at the communication barriers and my attempt at speaking creole, sitting on the roof with the Chileans on breezy nights, hearing about cultures all over the world, dancing and singing with Tony and Alejandro and our patients, drinking Haitian rum made with sugar cane mixed with mango or pineapple juice while playing a new haitian card game that the girls in the kitchen taught us, laughing about our funny patients and going on weekend outings with Karen and Cristina, and all the people I came in contact with each day who all greeted me with such warmth.
I can tell you that I won't miss all my bug bites that I itch until they bleed. I won't miss sharing my room with tarantulas and cock roaches. I won't miss the smell of exhaust, garbage everywhere, and roads full of potholes. But I will leave feeling so grateful for this blessed life that I live and the opportunities I have been given. And I am so thankful to God for keeping me safe and giving me purpose! Signing off in Haiti. Orevwa.
Comments