Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty,
Please consider this a continuation of our gratitude for all of the support that you gave our group to make this trip possible.
Beginning with Cheryl Kerfeld, the organizer and connection to the co-founder of Manos Unidas, this trip became a reality. For the last two years, students of GROW have looked to faculty and received support from Cheryl in fostering a program that connects to communities nationally and internationally. We aim to serve individuals in need of physical therapy to the best of our ability and to match their needs. Cheryl has been paramount in advising this group of students and bringing together the pieces that enable us to continue in our endeavors. Thank you for everything from logistics to emotional support to the clinical challenge.
We would also like to thank the current and former heads of the department, Sally Westcott McCoy and Mark Guthrie. Without your support and belief in us as individuals, we would not have been blessed with such an incredible opportunity. The ability to travel to another country, experience another culture entirely, and meet people where they are is a life-changing experience in itself. To think that we did all of those things under the context of physical therapy is inspiring. This is a situation where our passions, our studies, and our experience were able to meet the deep needs of another community. We recognize that this would not have been possible without you, and hope to express our gratitude as fully as possible so you at least begin to feel how important you have been in this experience.
Finally, we would like to thank the rest of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine faculty. During your time at the University of Washington, you have challenged students to reach their potential and become not only better physical therapists, but better people. We recognize that you push us to be better people as a whole, while also giving us ample opportunities to hone our skills as physical therapists. Thank you for your continual support in the process of our growth as professionals.
Kindest regards,
Catey Whitlock
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Monday, September 15, 2014
Hasta Luego, Peru
Well, here we are.
The end of another journey; the beginning of a new chapter; the continual discovery of what is to be. I know my other posts have been less formal and have a certain amount of humor, but I don't know how much of that will come through here. For those of you who don't know this about me, I am terrible at saying goodbye. Truly awful. I'm hoping the words I write will capture a moment, a feeling, a wish, or a memory that I can keep. It's less of a 'goodbye' that way.
Moment: Today I found my world a blur of emotions from the time Rossana was making lunch for us, Lucho calling to say he loves us and won't ever forget us, one last photo in the apartment, and Rosanna helping with luggage and hailing the taxi. Her smile and kisses goodbye while waiting on the corner to wave until our taxi is out of sight will forever capture my heart.
Feeling: Hope. The effort, time, and energy that we were able to give to Manos Unidas is merely a drop in the ocean of never-ending need. While this intimidates me, I know that whatever the size of the drop, ripples are sure to follow. The supplies that we brought will continue to bring happiness, learning, and further opportunities to the children and teachers. Physical therapy techniques and ideas that we introduced will help children interact with their peers and family members. My hope is that the amount of joy and love shared will continue to grow and impact that community in a positive way.
Wish: I wish that each person who has supported me in this journey knows how much of an impact they have made. While I have mentioned the difference that physical therapy has made in this community, that is not possible without the generosity, love, and support from family members and friends.
Memory: I might have to cheat on this one and keep more than one memory. You know about Manos Unidas and my host family, but I have hardly had the chance to capture an image of the people I traveled with this September.
A month and a half ago, I remember sitting in the health sciences library with Corrin and Abby while we were on the phone with Jessica. We booked our tickets together that night and the trip became real. That being said, this trip literally was not possible without Jessica. From the beginning, she has been someone who jumps on board with excitement, passion, and a drive to help others. It has been incredible to observe her work as a physical therapist, constantly ask questions about techniques, what could be improved, and be provided the opportunity to try. Jessica has always been there for us during the trip, making sure that we felt comfortable enough to work with the children, but also challenging us to use our clinical reasoning. There is a lot to be said for someone who can find the balance to encourage you as a student, respect you as an individual, and have fun with you during a night out salsa dancing.
To the now-third-year student of physical therapy, Liz, I'll admit that I met her before the trip was even a glimmer of something real, but I didn't really begin to know her until a couple of days before the trip. Meeting up for froyo, I immediately recognized Liz as a down-to-earth person with a good sense of humor. Her compassion for others and patience became more apparent during our time together. It was a blessing to be with someone who exemplifies quality of care, integrity, and an energy to work with children that I have yet to see paralleled. I loved following her example and will continue to do so as I practice physical therapy.
For a girl that can only be described as hilarious, that's Abby. She has a way of bringing laughter and fun to any situation, making the hardest days lighter and constantly reminding you of what is good. In my mind, this makes her irreplaceable. I don't think she is someone who truly realizes the impact that she has on others and the light that she brings to every instance, but that's because she isn't one to dwell on that. I will forever be grateful for the kind of friend she is and I'm happy we had the chance to travel the world a bit together. As a student of physical therapy, she reminds me of the questions that should be asked and kindles my thirst for knowledge. Pretty tough to beat that combination in a friend!
The last personality to compliment this Peruvian physical therapy adventure belongs to Corrin. She is the type of person who keeps you grounded, causes you to look beyond the obvious, and is always there to support others. I know that I could not have processed my emotions the same way each day without her as a sounding board. Corrin also put up with my random questions until the wee hours of the morning, which I'm sure is no easy task. The love and genuine care that she showed me also went into each interaction she had with students, teachers, and every individual involved with this trip. I admire the way she treats others with such a high level of respect and kindness. This is something that I will continue to strive towards and look to her as an example.
A little over two weeks later, here I am. A traveler in an airport, waiting for the airline to open. A physical therapy student with valuable lessons in adaptability, resourcefulness, and serving the whole person, waiting to further my knowledge and skills. A daughter with appreciation for a supportive family, waiting to see them at home. A friend with stories and love, waiting to share them with those in my life. A person ready to chase the next adventure, write the next story, and see how my life changes because of it.
Thank you for all of your love and support.
Catey Lynne
The end of another journey; the beginning of a new chapter; the continual discovery of what is to be. I know my other posts have been less formal and have a certain amount of humor, but I don't know how much of that will come through here. For those of you who don't know this about me, I am terrible at saying goodbye. Truly awful. I'm hoping the words I write will capture a moment, a feeling, a wish, or a memory that I can keep. It's less of a 'goodbye' that way.
Moment: Today I found my world a blur of emotions from the time Rossana was making lunch for us, Lucho calling to say he loves us and won't ever forget us, one last photo in the apartment, and Rosanna helping with luggage and hailing the taxi. Her smile and kisses goodbye while waiting on the corner to wave until our taxi is out of sight will forever capture my heart.
Feeling: Hope. The effort, time, and energy that we were able to give to Manos Unidas is merely a drop in the ocean of never-ending need. While this intimidates me, I know that whatever the size of the drop, ripples are sure to follow. The supplies that we brought will continue to bring happiness, learning, and further opportunities to the children and teachers. Physical therapy techniques and ideas that we introduced will help children interact with their peers and family members. My hope is that the amount of joy and love shared will continue to grow and impact that community in a positive way.
Wish: I wish that each person who has supported me in this journey knows how much of an impact they have made. While I have mentioned the difference that physical therapy has made in this community, that is not possible without the generosity, love, and support from family members and friends.
Memory: I might have to cheat on this one and keep more than one memory. You know about Manos Unidas and my host family, but I have hardly had the chance to capture an image of the people I traveled with this September.
A month and a half ago, I remember sitting in the health sciences library with Corrin and Abby while we were on the phone with Jessica. We booked our tickets together that night and the trip became real. That being said, this trip literally was not possible without Jessica. From the beginning, she has been someone who jumps on board with excitement, passion, and a drive to help others. It has been incredible to observe her work as a physical therapist, constantly ask questions about techniques, what could be improved, and be provided the opportunity to try. Jessica has always been there for us during the trip, making sure that we felt comfortable enough to work with the children, but also challenging us to use our clinical reasoning. There is a lot to be said for someone who can find the balance to encourage you as a student, respect you as an individual, and have fun with you during a night out salsa dancing.
To the now-third-year student of physical therapy, Liz, I'll admit that I met her before the trip was even a glimmer of something real, but I didn't really begin to know her until a couple of days before the trip. Meeting up for froyo, I immediately recognized Liz as a down-to-earth person with a good sense of humor. Her compassion for others and patience became more apparent during our time together. It was a blessing to be with someone who exemplifies quality of care, integrity, and an energy to work with children that I have yet to see paralleled. I loved following her example and will continue to do so as I practice physical therapy.
For a girl that can only be described as hilarious, that's Abby. She has a way of bringing laughter and fun to any situation, making the hardest days lighter and constantly reminding you of what is good. In my mind, this makes her irreplaceable. I don't think she is someone who truly realizes the impact that she has on others and the light that she brings to every instance, but that's because she isn't one to dwell on that. I will forever be grateful for the kind of friend she is and I'm happy we had the chance to travel the world a bit together. As a student of physical therapy, she reminds me of the questions that should be asked and kindles my thirst for knowledge. Pretty tough to beat that combination in a friend!
The last personality to compliment this Peruvian physical therapy adventure belongs to Corrin. She is the type of person who keeps you grounded, causes you to look beyond the obvious, and is always there to support others. I know that I could not have processed my emotions the same way each day without her as a sounding board. Corrin also put up with my random questions until the wee hours of the morning, which I'm sure is no easy task. The love and genuine care that she showed me also went into each interaction she had with students, teachers, and every individual involved with this trip. I admire the way she treats others with such a high level of respect and kindness. This is something that I will continue to strive towards and look to her as an example.
A little over two weeks later, here I am. A traveler in an airport, waiting for the airline to open. A physical therapy student with valuable lessons in adaptability, resourcefulness, and serving the whole person, waiting to further my knowledge and skills. A daughter with appreciation for a supportive family, waiting to see them at home. A friend with stories and love, waiting to share them with those in my life. A person ready to chase the next adventure, write the next story, and see how my life changes because of it.
Thank you for all of your love and support.
Catey Lynne
Robbery, Salt Flats, and Tradition
Saturday was our day trip with our host mom, Rossana. Our initial plans were to visit the ruins at Pisac, but after some discussion the night before we decided instead to visit Moray and Salineras. After a late breakfast we took a taxi to catch our minibus (thankfully, the intense seat-filling lady was not on this one! ) We took another amazing trip through the countryside, this time being treated to some incredible views of snow-capped peaks in the distance.
Arriving just outside the village of Maras, we caught a cab to take us to the ruins at Moray. However, we ended up being quite disappointed as it appeared you could no longer buy entrance just to Moray, previously 15 soles, but had now to purchase a tourist ticket for 70 soles (about $25) that included entry to four other sites, which we would not have time to visit. Apparently, the change had just happened a month before, unbeknownst to both Rossana and our taxi driver. Downside, no Moray. Upside, we did get to see Rossana turn it up to 10 on the staff complaining about robbery and treating tourists well. So that was fun.
So onward to Salineras! This place was fascinating. Community members dig shallow pits which form salt flats as the water evaporates. There were easily hundreds of them and we got to see many members at work. They also had many flavored and medicinal salt blends to sell.
Heading back toward Cusco, we stopped by La Cusqueñita, a traditional restaurant in the style of a Pikanteria. According to Rossana, Pikanterias were once common eateries run out of colonial homes. Food was cooked on wood - fire open stoves while the cuys ran around at your feet. We still didn't try cuy (have you looked it up?), but we were treated to some traditional dances. We ordered typical dishes and different varieties of chicha, the typical drink of the area. Some were made of quinoa, most of corn, and two varieties were slightly fermented, tasting a little like kombucha.
After our very filling lunch we needed to burn off some calories, so we headed down the street to a statue of Pachacuteq, one of the great Incan ruler. We were treated to a mini - museum recounting the history of his rule and then great views from the top of the tower.
We walked back home, and reality set in as we began to pack up our things to prepare for our trip home on Sunday. Amilcar, the physical therapist from the school stopped by for one last goodbye, and two special requests from the states... some Kinesiotape, and equally as important, some Jelly Bellies. We were more than happy to oblige :)
Then it was time to turn in for the night and get some rest before our marathon trip back to Seattle.
Signing off,
Jessica
Jessica
Last Day at Camino Nuevo
Friday was the last day of school.
(First with a brief stop at Celeste's apartment while en route to the school. We helped her move a few things out before catching a plane just hours later for the first part of her trip back to the US...classic Disney songs played in the background as we bustled around, thanks Catey for bringing those beloved childhood memories back).
Upon walking into the school and receiving a warm welcome from the teachers, we were able to see one of the teachers facilitating play with a student using one of the cause and effect toys that was donated. Talk about being overcome with honor while witnessing the impact these materials generously donated by so many people across the nation in support of our trip. Thank you again to everyone who donated; your gift has a true influence in the lives of these children. We quickly assessed our agenda for the day and took on our next task of modifying a seating system for a student who regularly uses a wheelchair. The teachers had expressed their goal to have this student sit at the same level as her peers during play time; a fundamental goal to increase participation in daily activities. A piece of foam, three lanyards, a few knots, and a little bit of geometry later we MacGyvered a chair that supported the student in maintaining good posture for her current impairments and most importantly allowed the student to sit at the level of her peers.
The next item was checking to make sure all the donated materials were outfitted with batteries and left in running order. We then created a home exercise program (HEP) for another student with cerebral palsy that would facilitate trunk stabilization, head control, and eventually reaching for items. After handing the HEP off to the teachers to give to his parents, we took the students out to the park right across the street to play. How perfect to have a park across the street from the school! Realizing our time at the school was coming to a close, we started to say our goodbyes and were pleasantly surprised when the teachers all gathered around for a small thank you ceremony in gratitude of our two weeks at the school, complete with beautiful paintings for each of us handmade by students at the school. I wish I had it all on video, because I'm pretty sure it would have shown how much everyone gained from the experience. After many heart felt goodbyes with the students and teachers, we took one last picture in front of the school and walked home for lunch. The magnitude and spectrum of emotions that were felt and shown today definitely moved each of one us in a unique way.
Following lunch was an impromptu tour guided by Lucho, to a church nestled on the hillside that provided a vista point and open view of the city. A few pictures and a history lesson later we were on to our next stop; a cemetery. You're probably wondering why a cemetery would warrant a visit during a volunteer trip, however cemeteries in Latin America are quite different than what we see in the states. Instead of flat tombstones and acres of freshly cut grass, cemeteries here are built up (keeping in mind that space can be limited), are fairly ornate and in this case a beautiful cathedral and museum surrounded the site. In addition, some grave stones are encased in glass allowing cherished items to be placed inside. Lucho then dropped us off at Qoricancha, which is another site that displays ancient Incan ruins. Lucho has been so gracious during our stay, making sure that we fully experience the cusquenan culture (elaborate stories during dinner included). We toured around and then found a spot on the stair case outside to watch the sunset.
Next was dinner at Los Toldos (again...we couldn't get enough of their oven roasted chicken!). Salsa lessons and a concert (best described as tribal/worldly/fusion...and quite amazing) with some local musicians consumed the rest of the night.
More weekend adventures are soon to follow.
Hasta Luego,
Corrin
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Therapy, Tres Leches, and New Company (Oui Oui = Wee Wee)
Our last day working with Amilcar, the physical therapist at Camino Nuevo/Manos Unidas! Started the day off with our usual delicious breakfast prepared by Rossana, our host mom. We then headed out for our bus and arrived to the school, Camino Nuevo.
Today we worked with 4 kiddos. With the first little lady, we got to observe as Jessica and Amilcar used kinesiotape to extend her wrist and thumb bilaterally. Amilcar was really excited to use the tape we donated and see the awesome k-taping book Jessica brought. He requested for us to help him get a hold of a k-taping book, even if it was in English, because he could look at the pictures and get ideas. From there we continued to work on prone over a wedge and encouraged her to weight bear through her now taped hands by using our own hands to hold them down in the proper position. We got to introduce the new cause-and-effect toys we donated to the kids, which they especially loved! They were so helpful in gaining their motivation and interest as we tried to promote head and trunk control while in prone.
The next kiddo is one that has primarily extension tone. One goal is to help him find his midline by reaching for toys that are at the center of him. Last time, Jessica showed Amilcar that adding deep pressure to the boy's abdomen can facilitate extremity movements because he will feel more stability at his center. We then continued to work in prone on forearms and also in sitting to encourage weight bearing through his hands.
With the third boy, Jessica and Amilcar used kinesiotape again to help with his right concave scoliosis which expanded through his thoracic and upper lumbar spine. He was placed prone over a wedge and the tape was used to facilitate right trunk extension of the concave side of his scoliosis. Another tape was used to obtain a functional correction that went across his back. We then continued therapy by doing activities that encouraged him to shorten the left side of his body and actively elongate his right side. This was to facilitate the work that was already being done with the tape. Examples of the activities include prone play by having him reach for toys placed to the left side of his body but using his right hand. It seemed a bit challenging for him so we moved him into sitting and kept encouraging reaching with his right hand.
The final kiddo we saw was a 6 year old little girl. We spent the time working on head control by using new light up and musical toys we brought in to gain her interest, which were quite successful and fun! We also practiced sitting and balance reactions on a therapy ball we donated. Amilcar usually uses a peanut ball with the kiddos but mentioned he used to use regular therapy balls except they all had popped. So he was excited to get a new ball to use!
As this was our last time with Amilcar, we gave him a post card with a picture of Mount Rainier and wrote out a thank you for working with us and sharing his knowledge. It was a bitter sweet moment, and he was really appreciative of us coming in and invited us to come back and stay at his home. We said our goodbyes and took a picture with him. He was definitely a great therapist and we were so happy to have had the opportunity to work with him.
After school, we headed home for lunch and then Rossana taught us how to make a cake called Tres Leches! It translates to a cake of 3 milks and is super moist and yummy. We had been waiting for this day for a long time and had been holding off because different girls were having stomach problems, but finally we were able to do it. Three hours later, the cake was ready and was amazing as expected.
Later that night, the family was expecting company from French boys their daughter had met while traveling in Europe. Rossana set the table with small chicken sandwiches, cheese and bread, the tres leches cake, and home made hot chocolate. Yes it was delicious :) Something cool about this new company was that Catey finally got her chance to speak French and be the main talker at the table as she translated some things back to us :) They did speak a little English and some Spanish but Catey's French was very much appreciated.
After the guests left, everyone was pretty exhausted and ready for bed. We were all sad to realize the next day would be our last day at the school and with the amazing kiddos we met.
-Liz
Today we worked with 4 kiddos. With the first little lady, we got to observe as Jessica and Amilcar used kinesiotape to extend her wrist and thumb bilaterally. Amilcar was really excited to use the tape we donated and see the awesome k-taping book Jessica brought. He requested for us to help him get a hold of a k-taping book, even if it was in English, because he could look at the pictures and get ideas. From there we continued to work on prone over a wedge and encouraged her to weight bear through her now taped hands by using our own hands to hold them down in the proper position. We got to introduce the new cause-and-effect toys we donated to the kids, which they especially loved! They were so helpful in gaining their motivation and interest as we tried to promote head and trunk control while in prone.
The next kiddo is one that has primarily extension tone. One goal is to help him find his midline by reaching for toys that are at the center of him. Last time, Jessica showed Amilcar that adding deep pressure to the boy's abdomen can facilitate extremity movements because he will feel more stability at his center. We then continued to work in prone on forearms and also in sitting to encourage weight bearing through his hands.
With the third boy, Jessica and Amilcar used kinesiotape again to help with his right concave scoliosis which expanded through his thoracic and upper lumbar spine. He was placed prone over a wedge and the tape was used to facilitate right trunk extension of the concave side of his scoliosis. Another tape was used to obtain a functional correction that went across his back. We then continued therapy by doing activities that encouraged him to shorten the left side of his body and actively elongate his right side. This was to facilitate the work that was already being done with the tape. Examples of the activities include prone play by having him reach for toys placed to the left side of his body but using his right hand. It seemed a bit challenging for him so we moved him into sitting and kept encouraging reaching with his right hand.
The final kiddo we saw was a 6 year old little girl. We spent the time working on head control by using new light up and musical toys we brought in to gain her interest, which were quite successful and fun! We also practiced sitting and balance reactions on a therapy ball we donated. Amilcar usually uses a peanut ball with the kiddos but mentioned he used to use regular therapy balls except they all had popped. So he was excited to get a new ball to use!
As this was our last time with Amilcar, we gave him a post card with a picture of Mount Rainier and wrote out a thank you for working with us and sharing his knowledge. It was a bitter sweet moment, and he was really appreciative of us coming in and invited us to come back and stay at his home. We said our goodbyes and took a picture with him. He was definitely a great therapist and we were so happy to have had the opportunity to work with him.
After school, we headed home for lunch and then Rossana taught us how to make a cake called Tres Leches! It translates to a cake of 3 milks and is super moist and yummy. We had been waiting for this day for a long time and had been holding off because different girls were having stomach problems, but finally we were able to do it. Three hours later, the cake was ready and was amazing as expected.
Later that night, the family was expecting company from French boys their daughter had met while traveling in Europe. Rossana set the table with small chicken sandwiches, cheese and bread, the tres leches cake, and home made hot chocolate. Yes it was delicious :) Something cool about this new company was that Catey finally got her chance to speak French and be the main talker at the table as she translated some things back to us :) They did speak a little English and some Spanish but Catey's French was very much appreciated.
After the guests left, everyone was pretty exhausted and ready for bed. We were all sad to realize the next day would be our last day at the school and with the amazing kiddos we met.
-Liz
Thursday, September 11, 2014
A day at an orphanage
Quick note: this is a rather wordy post and there is a very condensed version at the end if you do not have the time.
September 10, 2014
Today was an emotional day. Happy, sad, discouraged, joyful, and everything in between happened this morning. Today was the day we went to the Hogar Madre Teresa de Calcutta which is a home for mentally and physically disabled children and adults.
We brought a few donations with Celeste to the orphanage and then met with Mercedes, the co-founder of Manos Unidas and waited in the courtyard for the nuns to finish mass. We were kept company by two people, a young man who was sitting and rocking in the sun by himself and a young woman with CP who had been a former student of Mercedes and was very happy to see her again. We were then led to the children's area and given a brief tour of two large rooms with 9 beds and 9 cribs. Our first interaction was with a small boy who was tied with a bathrobe string to his crib so he wouldn't climb out and repeatedly banging his head on the side of the metal crib. He had extensive scarring and some hair loss where the head banging had obviously been his habit since he had head control. As we entered the main eating room a worker at the home and two volunteers (one from France and one from Mexico) were already hard at work beginning to feed the younger children. There were 17 kids we worked with of whom about 14 were extremely involved and needed almost constant attention during feeding. Nine were wheelchair bound and a few were malnourished. Three-quarters were nonverbal. All of them showed some sort of secondary complication to not receiving early and appropriate intervention. We got busy helping as it was rare to have five extra pairs of hands for the morning routine. Even with the extra help it took us about two and a half hours to feed everyone, brush teeth, change diapers, clean dishes (and floors, tables, and chairs) and then put everyone down for naps.
Feeding the kids at the orphanage varied widely. For two kids it was to put food in front of them and remind them to eat. For many others it was alternating between feeding one spoonful at a time and wiping chins to clean what they couldn't swallow. A few others needed games to eat and repeated reminders that spitting in faces, throwing food, stealing food, and hitting weren't quite the manners we were aiming for. After the cleaning routines they were put down for naps. We then learned that the rest of their day was a repeat of the morning. Two of the kids with Down's syndrome went to school but the rest stayed in their beds until the afternoon. There were no lessons, no games, and no outside play time. One of the volunteers said they get some good outside time about every two weeks but there just weren't enough hands to do it all.
I would love to show some of the beautiful faces of these kids but unfortunately there are no written consent forms there and many are involved in ongoing court cases. Many of the children were brought via the police or abandoned at the gate of the orphanage.
While it was difficult to see how the kids could benefit from so much more attention and help and therapy (many needed physical, occupational, speech, feeding, respiratory, and behavorial as well as other medical help) than was available, it was also amazing to see that all these kids were fed, clothed, warm at night, and safe. Each kid showed amazing responses to caring interaction and our head banger turned out to be a very good cuddler and imitator. It was also a good contrast to the village we visited in the campo the day before. There was one PT who worked at the orphanage and while supplies and time was limited, they were still receiving services that were totally unavailable if they were in the campo.
After the orphanage we came back to our sanctuary where Rossana supplied us with a delicious lunch of stuffed chiles and Peruvian coffee and passion fruit juice. We had a good debriefing with Celeste and (via Skype) our UW faculty liaison, Cheryl.
After dinner (the main course being pastries-- And I thinking more and more moving to Peru would be a sensible decision) we were very lucky to have Celeste's husband Calin come and show us his work. Calin is an artist who works with different materials to create gorgeous and unique pieces of jewelry. All of us had to get at least one of his works to remember our trip!
Rather exhausted and very full we turned in for the night. (Although there seems to be a domino effect of uneasy stomachs while we are here.)
Cheers and until tomorrow,
Abby
tl;dr We helped at an orphanage and learned more about feeding.
September 10, 2014
Today was an emotional day. Happy, sad, discouraged, joyful, and everything in between happened this morning. Today was the day we went to the Hogar Madre Teresa de Calcutta which is a home for mentally and physically disabled children and adults.
We brought a few donations with Celeste to the orphanage and then met with Mercedes, the co-founder of Manos Unidas and waited in the courtyard for the nuns to finish mass. We were kept company by two people, a young man who was sitting and rocking in the sun by himself and a young woman with CP who had been a former student of Mercedes and was very happy to see her again. We were then led to the children's area and given a brief tour of two large rooms with 9 beds and 9 cribs. Our first interaction was with a small boy who was tied with a bathrobe string to his crib so he wouldn't climb out and repeatedly banging his head on the side of the metal crib. He had extensive scarring and some hair loss where the head banging had obviously been his habit since he had head control. As we entered the main eating room a worker at the home and two volunteers (one from France and one from Mexico) were already hard at work beginning to feed the younger children. There were 17 kids we worked with of whom about 14 were extremely involved and needed almost constant attention during feeding. Nine were wheelchair bound and a few were malnourished. Three-quarters were nonverbal. All of them showed some sort of secondary complication to not receiving early and appropriate intervention. We got busy helping as it was rare to have five extra pairs of hands for the morning routine. Even with the extra help it took us about two and a half hours to feed everyone, brush teeth, change diapers, clean dishes (and floors, tables, and chairs) and then put everyone down for naps.
Feeding the kids at the orphanage varied widely. For two kids it was to put food in front of them and remind them to eat. For many others it was alternating between feeding one spoonful at a time and wiping chins to clean what they couldn't swallow. A few others needed games to eat and repeated reminders that spitting in faces, throwing food, stealing food, and hitting weren't quite the manners we were aiming for. After the cleaning routines they were put down for naps. We then learned that the rest of their day was a repeat of the morning. Two of the kids with Down's syndrome went to school but the rest stayed in their beds until the afternoon. There were no lessons, no games, and no outside play time. One of the volunteers said they get some good outside time about every two weeks but there just weren't enough hands to do it all.
I would love to show some of the beautiful faces of these kids but unfortunately there are no written consent forms there and many are involved in ongoing court cases. Many of the children were brought via the police or abandoned at the gate of the orphanage.
While it was difficult to see how the kids could benefit from so much more attention and help and therapy (many needed physical, occupational, speech, feeding, respiratory, and behavorial as well as other medical help) than was available, it was also amazing to see that all these kids were fed, clothed, warm at night, and safe. Each kid showed amazing responses to caring interaction and our head banger turned out to be a very good cuddler and imitator. It was also a good contrast to the village we visited in the campo the day before. There was one PT who worked at the orphanage and while supplies and time was limited, they were still receiving services that were totally unavailable if they were in the campo.
After the orphanage we came back to our sanctuary where Rossana supplied us with a delicious lunch of stuffed chiles and Peruvian coffee and passion fruit juice. We had a good debriefing with Celeste and (via Skype) our UW faculty liaison, Cheryl.
After dinner (the main course being pastries-- And I thinking more and more moving to Peru would be a sensible decision) we were very lucky to have Celeste's husband Calin come and show us his work. Calin is an artist who works with different materials to create gorgeous and unique pieces of jewelry. All of us had to get at least one of his works to remember our trip!
Rather exhausted and very full we turned in for the night. (Although there seems to be a domino effect of uneasy stomachs while we are here.)
Cheers and until tomorrow,
Abby
tl;dr We helped at an orphanage and learned more about feeding.
Pomacanchi and Fútbol at 13,000ft
Tuesday started out on Peruvian time. Leaving for Pomacanchi was a bit later than planned and happened during a busy taxi time. We met up with Victoria and survived the bus and taxi rides up to the village. The sun was beating harder on our backs because we were about 13,000 ft up without cloud cover. A quick sunscreen and water break later, we were walking around the community to meet families and their children with physical disabilities.
Trending with our tendency to improvise, today proved to be another time for that skill. The families were already at work and we were unable to see their children. Instead, we were welcomed into a home to look at their cuy farm (I mean cuy - look it up); it is their means of income that was established by a government program and maintained by that family. It is one of many programs that this community has created and provides its people with. They were explained to us further in the main government building by the mayor. He was most kind to fit us into his office space and talk to us during his busy day.
During our walk between buildings, we met a woman whose son had a hip dislocation when he was younger; a Dutch medical volunteer group reduced it six years ago. Now, he plays soccer, runs, and participates in other sports with his friends; however, he is hesitant to ride a bike to school because he falls frequently. Without meeting her son, the woman was asking us for ideas on exercises and things that would help him. It was a hard question to answer safely without seeing the boy at all. We had no idea if it was balance, strength, range of motion or another impairment(s) at the base of his behavior, but she clearly wanted help from us. We did our best to select exercises that had potential to be beneficial - or at the very least not harmful. After demonstrating, explaining, and leaving her a drawn copy (my stick figures cross language barriers that I can't cross myself), we had done everything we could.
We then walked over to the school to see students with physical disabilities. I literally cannot describe how excited I was to see a bunch of them at recess playing soccer. I asked Liz and Corrin about five times how to say, "can I play soccer with you," and five minutes later I felt practiced enough to ask. It might have been the first time they ever witnessed a tall, white, curly sand-colored hair girl do some tricks with a soccer ball. They were laughing and cheering every time I touched the ball and we put together some great plays! It was fun to be able play and connect over something we both love.
Recess ended and the principal and some teachers put together a group of students that they had concerns with and wanted us to help. With this scenario, we ran into another tricky corner. Most of the problems the children had were out of our scope of practice - that is to say they were not physically disabled. Whether it was memory, retention, learning, speaking, social skills, or some combination of the above, we were looked at like we had all the answers and solutions. It was a type of pressure that I haven't felt before. I wanted so badly to be able to help each of the students and teachers, but had to explain that it wasn't our expertise. They understood and we were able to end on a conversation about body mechanics when working with children. Hopefully that information will continue to help the teachers in the future as they work to serve their students to the best of their ability.
Catching a bus back into Cusco, there was plenty of time to reflect on the experience and I am more than happy to share the magnitude of emotions experienced that day in person. It is far too long to put in a blog post.
The evening was a bit lighter! Corrin and I went with Rossana to her aerobics class to rock out to some jams. We basically got to shake it, punch, run, and jump, jump, jump around at 11,500ft. :) So great! Then we came back home to watch a volleyball final between Peru and Argentina. PERU WON in 5!!! They came back to win the last three games of the match.
Alright, great talk. Sorry this took so long to post!
Best,
Catey Lynne
Trending with our tendency to improvise, today proved to be another time for that skill. The families were already at work and we were unable to see their children. Instead, we were welcomed into a home to look at their cuy farm (I mean cuy - look it up); it is their means of income that was established by a government program and maintained by that family. It is one of many programs that this community has created and provides its people with. They were explained to us further in the main government building by the mayor. He was most kind to fit us into his office space and talk to us during his busy day.
During our walk between buildings, we met a woman whose son had a hip dislocation when he was younger; a Dutch medical volunteer group reduced it six years ago. Now, he plays soccer, runs, and participates in other sports with his friends; however, he is hesitant to ride a bike to school because he falls frequently. Without meeting her son, the woman was asking us for ideas on exercises and things that would help him. It was a hard question to answer safely without seeing the boy at all. We had no idea if it was balance, strength, range of motion or another impairment(s) at the base of his behavior, but she clearly wanted help from us. We did our best to select exercises that had potential to be beneficial - or at the very least not harmful. After demonstrating, explaining, and leaving her a drawn copy (my stick figures cross language barriers that I can't cross myself), we had done everything we could.
We then walked over to the school to see students with physical disabilities. I literally cannot describe how excited I was to see a bunch of them at recess playing soccer. I asked Liz and Corrin about five times how to say, "can I play soccer with you," and five minutes later I felt practiced enough to ask. It might have been the first time they ever witnessed a tall, white, curly sand-colored hair girl do some tricks with a soccer ball. They were laughing and cheering every time I touched the ball and we put together some great plays! It was fun to be able play and connect over something we both love.
Recess ended and the principal and some teachers put together a group of students that they had concerns with and wanted us to help. With this scenario, we ran into another tricky corner. Most of the problems the children had were out of our scope of practice - that is to say they were not physically disabled. Whether it was memory, retention, learning, speaking, social skills, or some combination of the above, we were looked at like we had all the answers and solutions. It was a type of pressure that I haven't felt before. I wanted so badly to be able to help each of the students and teachers, but had to explain that it wasn't our expertise. They understood and we were able to end on a conversation about body mechanics when working with children. Hopefully that information will continue to help the teachers in the future as they work to serve their students to the best of their ability.
Catching a bus back into Cusco, there was plenty of time to reflect on the experience and I am more than happy to share the magnitude of emotions experienced that day in person. It is far too long to put in a blog post.
The evening was a bit lighter! Corrin and I went with Rossana to her aerobics class to rock out to some jams. We basically got to shake it, punch, run, and jump, jump, jump around at 11,500ft. :) So great! Then we came back home to watch a volleyball final between Peru and Argentina. PERU WON in 5!!! They came back to win the last three games of the match.
Alright, great talk. Sorry this took so long to post!
Best,
Catey Lynne
PT Outside and Star Gazing
Monday funday!!! Especially at Manos Unidas. :) Today we split up again and swapped rooms to work with different kids. Liz and I were working with the younger group, while Jessica, Abby, and Corrin worked with the older group.
Our time with the younger children was very hands on; we looked at positioning, feeding, counting, tracking, identifying colors, counting, and playing while another teacher performed a cognitive evaluation. The weather was gorgeous today so we were able to go outside and play at the park across the street, continuing the skills over there. Reaching for things at midline and extending your legs can be much more exciting with new scenery and new toys! (P.s. Liz is a total natural with the kids and it was fun being able to pick up some pediatric skills from her. Lots to look forward to this coming year of classes!)
This afternoon was special because Corrin, Jessica and I were able to go visit one of the student's homes. Her house was much more than I would have imagined. The accessibility was impressive with a spacious first floor, and the child has her own room! Her mom showed us her resourcefulness in creating bolsters to use for exercises and expressed a huge interest in what she could be doing for her daughter. We talked about positioning, sleeping, and demonstrated some new techniques to increase the little girl's interactions with the environment and people around her. In my mind, the most important conversation that we had was mostly between Jessica and the student's mother (something about being fluent in Spanish really helps with this). It was a tough conversation about maintenance therapy versus improvement from therapy. The mom was having a hard time understanding the difference between the two when her daughter was predicted to live 2-6 months by a doctor and was also predicted to walk again. These are very conflicting prognoses and understandably confusing. She recognizes that her daughter will not walk again, but also that therapy is progressing her and providing the little victories. The two extra seconds of holding her head up and smiling at a loved one. The ability to grasp a favorite toy or point to something that she wants. Oh, the things that therapy can do!
The evening was capped off with a trip to the artisan market, wandering around the Plaza de Armas, venturing up a hill to do some serious star gazing, and finding a bunch of new constellations. :) So many awe inspiring things in one day.
Report back again soon,
Catey Lynne
Our time with the younger children was very hands on; we looked at positioning, feeding, counting, tracking, identifying colors, counting, and playing while another teacher performed a cognitive evaluation. The weather was gorgeous today so we were able to go outside and play at the park across the street, continuing the skills over there. Reaching for things at midline and extending your legs can be much more exciting with new scenery and new toys! (P.s. Liz is a total natural with the kids and it was fun being able to pick up some pediatric skills from her. Lots to look forward to this coming year of classes!)
This afternoon was special because Corrin, Jessica and I were able to go visit one of the student's homes. Her house was much more than I would have imagined. The accessibility was impressive with a spacious first floor, and the child has her own room! Her mom showed us her resourcefulness in creating bolsters to use for exercises and expressed a huge interest in what she could be doing for her daughter. We talked about positioning, sleeping, and demonstrated some new techniques to increase the little girl's interactions with the environment and people around her. In my mind, the most important conversation that we had was mostly between Jessica and the student's mother (something about being fluent in Spanish really helps with this). It was a tough conversation about maintenance therapy versus improvement from therapy. The mom was having a hard time understanding the difference between the two when her daughter was predicted to live 2-6 months by a doctor and was also predicted to walk again. These are very conflicting prognoses and understandably confusing. She recognizes that her daughter will not walk again, but also that therapy is progressing her and providing the little victories. The two extra seconds of holding her head up and smiling at a loved one. The ability to grasp a favorite toy or point to something that she wants. Oh, the things that therapy can do!
The evening was capped off with a trip to the artisan market, wandering around the Plaza de Armas, venturing up a hill to do some serious star gazing, and finding a bunch of new constellations. :) So many awe inspiring things in one day.
Report back again soon,
Catey Lynne
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Llamas, Inca Kola, and a little taste of home in a far away place
Our Sunday morning started bright and early, as we got up and headed to the market to buy lunch for the day. At 7 we met with our tour guide Carmen, who would lead us around Machu Picchu. Thankfully, the sun was shining in bright blue skies, tummies were fairly settled, and everyone was hydrated (or well on their way). Our first adventure involved standing in line for nearly an hour as Carmen worked to get us round trip bus passage, a consequence of our changed plans. No matter! The sun was shining and Catey was able to finish outlining our awesome UW PT sign.
Once our tickets were in order, we hopped on a shuttle bus and began the trek from Aguas Calientes over the mountain to Machu Picchu. To say the road had a few switchbacks might be the understatement of the century, the ride was quite... exciting... especially when two buses met along a narrow curve and head to decide which one got to back up!
According to Carmen, they are not allowed to widen the road due to the environmental impact. We made it up in one piece and were ready to explore! We had four objectives for the day: learn about Machu Picchu, take an amazing panoramic picture while rocking our PT sign, work Inca Kola into a picture, and the cause championed by Abby (though really, we all wanted to) get a picture with a llama!
Our tour guide Carmen was incredible! We learned all kinds of things about Incan history, mythology and lifestyle while touring the ruins. It felt like we had to keep pinching ourselves because we couldn't believe we were really there! We stopped for lunch, then headed back in to hike up to the ledge where most people get the famous panoramic view, a little disappointed that there had been no llamas grazing down below. After a heart-pounding climb we made it, and got our sign picture. We also discovered what PTs do when they get to the top of a mountain: squats, planks, stars, tree pose...
Our items all checked off the list, we headed back to the bus, just as the rain stated to fall. One bus, train and mini bus ride later, we arrived back in Cusco, where our host mom Rossana was waiting with our evening snack, then off to bed.
Stay tuned for more,
Jessica
Once our tickets were in order, we hopped on a shuttle bus and began the trek from Aguas Calientes over the mountain to Machu Picchu. To say the road had a few switchbacks might be the understatement of the century, the ride was quite... exciting... especially when two buses met along a narrow curve and head to decide which one got to back up!
Our tour guide Carmen was incredible! We learned all kinds of things about Incan history, mythology and lifestyle while touring the ruins. It felt like we had to keep pinching ourselves because we couldn't believe we were really there! We stopped for lunch, then headed back in to hike up to the ledge where most people get the famous panoramic view, a little disappointed that there had been no llamas grazing down below. After a heart-pounding climb we made it, and got our sign picture. We also discovered what PTs do when they get to the top of a mountain: squats, planks, stars, tree pose...
Two items of our list and we decide to finish climbing up to the Gatehouse and maybe toward the Inca Bridge if we had time. And sure enough what do we see when we get to the top...? We may or may not have spent the rest of our time trying to convince llamas to be in our pictures, but it was worth it.
In a small world moment, we even realized that the one American we chatted to was from Seattle (actually Kent, which Catey and Jessica thought was pretty cool) and Catey saw her shirt twin wearing a Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon shirt.
Our items all checked off the list, we headed back to the bus, just as the rain stated to fall. One bus, train and mini bus ride later, we arrived back in Cusco, where our host mom Rossana was waiting with our evening snack, then off to bed.
Stay tuned for more,
Jessica
Peruvian Jungle and the Famous Hot Springs
After our short but quaint stay in Ollantaytambo (thanks to Rosanna, our host mom, for saving us after a quick change in plans and making accommodation arrangements with a cousin of hers who owns a hostel in Ollayantaytambo), we headed out early to catch the train to Machu Pichu. I like to think of this train as the Machu Pichu version of the Polar Express, totally magical with traditional Incan music, coca tea, and breathtaking views of the changing landscape as we entered the Peruvian jungle. We arrived at Aguascalientes a short hour later, which is essentially the entrance point into Machu Pichu. We took the opportunity to explore before we met up with our tour guide Jesus (including of course including a necessary stop at the only French bakery in town).
The afternoon consisted of trying to get train tickets for the return ride back to Ollayantaytambo, returning about 5 times to the ticket office with expected requirements (I think they changed each time), lunch of some traditional Peruvian dishes, and then a hike guided by Jesus around the backside of Machu Pichu where many Incans used to walk through to transport supplies for construction. After a trekking for an hour through the jungle, rain and all (we assured Jesus several times the rain was the least of our concerns, since we all live in Seattle), we arrived at Mandor where there was a plethora of beautiful flowers and plants in a conservatory as part of a government project to protect the remaining flora. On the way back, Abby and I caught a glimpse of a rainbow nestled between the mountains for a few seconds, so amazing.
Our stay in Aguascalientes wasn't complete without a visit to the famous hot springs. So after returning from our hike, cold and damp, we all gathered our gear and walked up a few blocks to the hot springs anxiously awaiting a jacuzzi like experience and relief from the cold weather we had all day. Report was that the hot springs were less than warm, maybe tepid at best, with some natural minerals and colors in the water giving it a cloudy appearance. With that said, I decided to hold off, but news was that Abby has a niche for synchronized swimming.
The rest of the evening was consumed with dinner of pizza (it's always interesting to try pizza in other countries) and a UW Physical Therapy sign making party back at the hostel to take with us for our visit to Machu Pichu the following day (major thanks to Catey's awesome drawing skills). More to be continued on Machu Pichu by Jessica....get ready!
-Corrin
The afternoon consisted of trying to get train tickets for the return ride back to Ollayantaytambo, returning about 5 times to the ticket office with expected requirements (I think they changed each time), lunch of some traditional Peruvian dishes, and then a hike guided by Jesus around the backside of Machu Pichu where many Incans used to walk through to transport supplies for construction. After a trekking for an hour through the jungle, rain and all (we assured Jesus several times the rain was the least of our concerns, since we all live in Seattle), we arrived at Mandor where there was a plethora of beautiful flowers and plants in a conservatory as part of a government project to protect the remaining flora. On the way back, Abby and I caught a glimpse of a rainbow nestled between the mountains for a few seconds, so amazing.
Our stay in Aguascalientes wasn't complete without a visit to the famous hot springs. So after returning from our hike, cold and damp, we all gathered our gear and walked up a few blocks to the hot springs anxiously awaiting a jacuzzi like experience and relief from the cold weather we had all day. Report was that the hot springs were less than warm, maybe tepid at best, with some natural minerals and colors in the water giving it a cloudy appearance. With that said, I decided to hold off, but news was that Abby has a niche for synchronized swimming.
The rest of the evening was consumed with dinner of pizza (it's always interesting to try pizza in other countries) and a UW Physical Therapy sign making party back at the hostel to take with us for our visit to Machu Pichu the following day (major thanks to Catey's awesome drawing skills). More to be continued on Machu Pichu by Jessica....get ready!
-Corrin
Monday, September 8, 2014
Inauguration and a Little Improvise
This post begins with Celeste. The woman who helped organize our volunteer trip and co-founder of Manos Unidas. She graciously invited us to the inauguration of Manos Unidas' new project: Phawarispa, which means 'we run together' in Qechuya.
We arrived early to set up chairs, decorate the walls, and do any prep work we could. Celeste gave me her camera for the event and I attempted to be a photographer - she will have to let you know how that went! I believe the photos will go up on the Manos Unidas Facebook page. The inauguration itself started with the national anthem, had multiple speeches from professors, the founders, and a traditional Incan ritual with the breaking of a pot full of chicha.
There are three programs for students within this new location: one for adolescents 13-17 y.o, one for young adults 18-25 y.o, and one for students with severe disabilities. The adolescent program focuses on activities of daily living like laundry, cleaning, making the bed, toiletries, self-care, etc, as well as social skills and prevocational skills. The young adult program targets housekeeping, restaurant services, sustainable gardening, and looks to incorporate livestock care in the future. Intentions of this program are for students to gain skills for a job that will support sustainable living. The final program for students who have severe disabilities gives a place for them to continue their studies and improve social and life skills.
With the explanations provided, speeches given, and Incan ritual completed. We all toasted with wine and made sure to serve Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) first. Following the good cheers, we toured the grounds, rooms, and were served a snack at the cafe by some of the current students.
Our tour guide for the weekend met us in the cafe, and then we were off on an adventure to get our tickets changed for Machu Picchu. We could no longer take our original route because of strikes people are throwing. With a long walk to a currency exchange, we stumbled upon Incan ruins that were found under the streets in Cusco as they were being dug up for a construction project. Like the continuation of a dream, we took a quick taxi ride back, packed up, and grabbed a crazy cab ride with all of our bags. We were running red lights, honking to the tune of traffic, and ended up stopping in one spot for ten minutes with a driver insisting he takes us the whole way, only to move 20 ft. When we got out of the car, it was the wrong station with the workers insisting they are the only bus stop in the area. Good thing our tour guide was across the street waving at us from another station!
Our van to Ollantaytambo was comfortable, but the lady trying to book seats was a little insane. She was insisting there were four seats when we had two left in the van, furious to be leaving with open seats, was totally aggressive and asked to calm down by another passenger.
The rest of the ride was smooth.
That's if a smooth ride still includes not following any laws of traffic or lines on the road. :) We made it to our city and the power was out! Recorded another captains log in the dark (I think Corrin has audio of it). The power came back and we explored the town to find alpaca and guinea pig pizza among other things. Then more socks. Liz needed them. Annnnnd a wet floor, flickering light, some unknown bugs, and a few beds later, it was time to sleep.
Alright! Enough. Jessica and Corrin are going to write about Saturday and Sunday. Which were magical, breath taking, and amazing.
I'll get back to you about 9/8/14 adventures soon! Off to a village tomorrow.
All my love,
Catey Lynne
We arrived early to set up chairs, decorate the walls, and do any prep work we could. Celeste gave me her camera for the event and I attempted to be a photographer - she will have to let you know how that went! I believe the photos will go up on the Manos Unidas Facebook page. The inauguration itself started with the national anthem, had multiple speeches from professors, the founders, and a traditional Incan ritual with the breaking of a pot full of chicha.
There are three programs for students within this new location: one for adolescents 13-17 y.o, one for young adults 18-25 y.o, and one for students with severe disabilities. The adolescent program focuses on activities of daily living like laundry, cleaning, making the bed, toiletries, self-care, etc, as well as social skills and prevocational skills. The young adult program targets housekeeping, restaurant services, sustainable gardening, and looks to incorporate livestock care in the future. Intentions of this program are for students to gain skills for a job that will support sustainable living. The final program for students who have severe disabilities gives a place for them to continue their studies and improve social and life skills.
With the explanations provided, speeches given, and Incan ritual completed. We all toasted with wine and made sure to serve Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) first. Following the good cheers, we toured the grounds, rooms, and were served a snack at the cafe by some of the current students.
Our tour guide for the weekend met us in the cafe, and then we were off on an adventure to get our tickets changed for Machu Picchu. We could no longer take our original route because of strikes people are throwing. With a long walk to a currency exchange, we stumbled upon Incan ruins that were found under the streets in Cusco as they were being dug up for a construction project. Like the continuation of a dream, we took a quick taxi ride back, packed up, and grabbed a crazy cab ride with all of our bags. We were running red lights, honking to the tune of traffic, and ended up stopping in one spot for ten minutes with a driver insisting he takes us the whole way, only to move 20 ft. When we got out of the car, it was the wrong station with the workers insisting they are the only bus stop in the area. Good thing our tour guide was across the street waving at us from another station!
Our van to Ollantaytambo was comfortable, but the lady trying to book seats was a little insane. She was insisting there were four seats when we had two left in the van, furious to be leaving with open seats, was totally aggressive and asked to calm down by another passenger.
The rest of the ride was smooth.
That's if a smooth ride still includes not following any laws of traffic or lines on the road. :) We made it to our city and the power was out! Recorded another captains log in the dark (I think Corrin has audio of it). The power came back and we explored the town to find alpaca and guinea pig pizza among other things. Then more socks. Liz needed them. Annnnnd a wet floor, flickering light, some unknown bugs, and a few beds later, it was time to sleep.
Alright! Enough. Jessica and Corrin are going to write about Saturday and Sunday. Which were magical, breath taking, and amazing.
I'll get back to you about 9/8/14 adventures soon! Off to a village tomorrow.
All my love,
Catey Lynne
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Therapy, donations, home visits, and 3 ill tummies
Started the morning off with some yummy breakfast: a thick purple corn type drink called Api and bread with melted cheese. Then we headed to school with our 5 suit cases full of donations! Had to take a taxi to make the trip. Today was physical therapy day at school and we worked with 6 kiddos on everything from rolling to sitting to prone head control and sit to stands. The therapist does an excellent job with the kiddos and there was some great exchange of ideas between Jessica (our peds therapist) and the therapist at the school. The kiddos are so adorable and their smiles and laughs all warm our hearts.
After therapy, we sorted through all our donations and categorized them for the school teachers. They were so excited when they walked into the room and got to pick things out for their students. For every toy they picked, they had a specific kid in mind. It was so cool to see how excited and grateful they were for all these new toys. They are so creative and so passionate in their work. We also brought things for specific physical therapy use, such as kinesio tape and a therapy ball. It was a good feeling to see the excitement and know the good use these toys will bring in the future.
After spending time at the school, we headed back home for lunch. In the afternoon, Jessica, Liz, and Abigail had the opportunity to do a home visit with one of the kids from school. He lived in a 3 story home with about 21 stairs or more. He was on the 3rd floor with his caregiver, and keep in mind someone has to carry him up all those stairs!! I believe he's 10 years old and he has a lot of extensor tone so I just imagine how hard it must be to carry him up and down those steep stairs everyday! He is fortunate enough to have had the same caregiver everyday for the past 3 years, and who was taught exercises by the school physical therapist. We were really impressed by her skill and let her know she was doing a great job. It was evident that she was very caring of the kiddo in the way she treated him. He recently completed attending hydro therapy 3 times a week, and was going to start a new type of physical therapy about 2 times a week. We were really impressed that he was getting all this great care outside of school. We also learned that he has a wooden type stand up frame which he uses daily as well as some AFO's, however, those he had not been using.
Once we returned home, it was nap time for almost everybody. Unfortunately, 1 Husky had to miss a whole day of fun recuperating, 1 had a rough time the night before and was feeling a lil icky, and another started feeling ill in the afternoon and was out for the rest of the night. They are being really well taken care of by our sweet host mom, and hopefully by tomorrow, everyone can feel super! Especially because we have Machu Picchu coming up on Saturday!!
We ended the night with some cool cultural history from our host dad and some translation of this history by Jessica for Catey. It was a great night, and now it's time to sleep. Zzzzzzz....(host dad told me to write that haha :) )
Buenas Noches!
Liz
After therapy, we sorted through all our donations and categorized them for the school teachers. They were so excited when they walked into the room and got to pick things out for their students. For every toy they picked, they had a specific kid in mind. It was so cool to see how excited and grateful they were for all these new toys. They are so creative and so passionate in their work. We also brought things for specific physical therapy use, such as kinesio tape and a therapy ball. It was a good feeling to see the excitement and know the good use these toys will bring in the future.
After spending time at the school, we headed back home for lunch. In the afternoon, Jessica, Liz, and Abigail had the opportunity to do a home visit with one of the kids from school. He lived in a 3 story home with about 21 stairs or more. He was on the 3rd floor with his caregiver, and keep in mind someone has to carry him up all those stairs!! I believe he's 10 years old and he has a lot of extensor tone so I just imagine how hard it must be to carry him up and down those steep stairs everyday! He is fortunate enough to have had the same caregiver everyday for the past 3 years, and who was taught exercises by the school physical therapist. We were really impressed by her skill and let her know she was doing a great job. It was evident that she was very caring of the kiddo in the way she treated him. He recently completed attending hydro therapy 3 times a week, and was going to start a new type of physical therapy about 2 times a week. We were really impressed that he was getting all this great care outside of school. We also learned that he has a wooden type stand up frame which he uses daily as well as some AFO's, however, those he had not been using.
Once we returned home, it was nap time for almost everybody. Unfortunately, 1 Husky had to miss a whole day of fun recuperating, 1 had a rough time the night before and was feeling a lil icky, and another started feeling ill in the afternoon and was out for the rest of the night. They are being really well taken care of by our sweet host mom, and hopefully by tomorrow, everyone can feel super! Especially because we have Machu Picchu coming up on Saturday!!
We ended the night with some cool cultural history from our host dad and some translation of this history by Jessica for Catey. It was a great night, and now it's time to sleep. Zzzzzzz....(host dad told me to write that haha :) )
Buenas Noches!
Liz
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Caballos, Cristo, y Cusqueñas
Captain's log, 3rd of September, year of our Lord 2014. Local time: 20:42.
In the early hours after breaking our fast the party set out into unknown territory without our local alliance. The transportation proved to be easy enough to master and we successfully arrived at the locale of education. Splitting into two groups, we were successful in observing and assisting the local profesores with the young offspring. The time passed quickly and soon we reconvened for sustenance at our local abode.
At the suggestion of our knowledgable and most caring host and hostess we embarked upon an afternoon to further our Peru adventure. The following sequence of events then occurred: getting dropped on the side of the road in the mountains (12,000 feet), horse riding, exploring Incan temples, invitations to discotecas (denied), meeting Christ, taxi rides from our scorned suitor, and celebratory Cusqueñas in an Irish pub. We returned safely to our local homestead upon one of our party falling ill. She will regain strength soon and will gain comfort from coca tea and bathroom gatherings over the ceramic (Peru) throne.
Photos to follow for the sake of posterity.
Captain out.
-Abigail Smith.
In the early hours after breaking our fast the party set out into unknown territory without our local alliance. The transportation proved to be easy enough to master and we successfully arrived at the locale of education. Splitting into two groups, we were successful in observing and assisting the local profesores with the young offspring. The time passed quickly and soon we reconvened for sustenance at our local abode.
At the suggestion of our knowledgable and most caring host and hostess we embarked upon an afternoon to further our Peru adventure. The following sequence of events then occurred: getting dropped on the side of the road in the mountains (12,000 feet), horse riding, exploring Incan temples, invitations to discotecas (denied), meeting Christ, taxi rides from our scorned suitor, and celebratory Cusqueñas in an Irish pub. We returned safely to our local homestead upon one of our party falling ill. She will regain strength soon and will gain comfort from coca tea and bathroom gatherings over the ceramic (Peru) throne.
Photos to follow for the sake of posterity.
Captain out.
-Abigail Smith.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
¿Cuánto Cuesta?
Today was our first official day at Manos Unidas. Know that I wish I could share what it feels like and everything that we were able to do, but nothing can capture the energy, love, or type of pull that the school has on you. It's that pull that sinks deep into your chest and awakens something you didn't even know was there. It's the way a child can smile at you and a piece of you melts away. It's motivating someone to stand for a hug, when you're not sure who is getting more out of that interaction.
Working with the local PT today looked like an observation with a Q&A session and multiple translations for yours truly (still working on that Spanish). Thursday sounds like it will be more hands on time now that we have a greater understanding for the therapy goals of each child. We were able to see around 7 patients and then help out in others ways around the school. I have a newfound appreciation for SLP therapists after trying to help feed a young girl with specific guidelines provided from an SLP eval. Let's just say it is harder than you would think! (To any of my friends in SLP - don't worry! I helped mostly with head control.)
Celeste graciously gave us a tour of the school so we could see other areas and classrooms, and then we took a lesuirely walk home for lunch. Rosanna spoiled us with a customary local dish that was delicious! I believe Liz or Abby took a picture and it is floating around somewhere. Eventually you might get to see it. :) it was a special chicken and cola with rice. Yum!
We took the afternoon to explore Cusco a bit more, smooshing into another small taxi to bring us to the plaza again. Let it be known that today was much harder to hail a taxi. Usually they are honking at us and making their presence known, but we must have gone at a busy time! Everyone already had passengers. Eventually, we were able to make it further into town and explore an artisan area. The local crafts and clothing are nothing short of beautiful and I'm sure we all wished a few times that we had space to bring more things home. It is amazing what people can make! Also, worthy to take note here that I appreciate traveling with people who actually speak Spanish. There was a point today where I asked how I much I cost versus how much an item cost. Yep. True story. Please feel free to laugh and know that I was not given a monetary answer. :) Thankfully, the lady helping me out also gave me a brief Spanish lesson and a laugh. I was able to trade some French in return.
With that, we headed back for dinner and a night in.
Buenas noches
- CLW
Working with the local PT today looked like an observation with a Q&A session and multiple translations for yours truly (still working on that Spanish). Thursday sounds like it will be more hands on time now that we have a greater understanding for the therapy goals of each child. We were able to see around 7 patients and then help out in others ways around the school. I have a newfound appreciation for SLP therapists after trying to help feed a young girl with specific guidelines provided from an SLP eval. Let's just say it is harder than you would think! (To any of my friends in SLP - don't worry! I helped mostly with head control.)
Celeste graciously gave us a tour of the school so we could see other areas and classrooms, and then we took a lesuirely walk home for lunch. Rosanna spoiled us with a customary local dish that was delicious! I believe Liz or Abby took a picture and it is floating around somewhere. Eventually you might get to see it. :) it was a special chicken and cola with rice. Yum!
We took the afternoon to explore Cusco a bit more, smooshing into another small taxi to bring us to the plaza again. Let it be known that today was much harder to hail a taxi. Usually they are honking at us and making their presence known, but we must have gone at a busy time! Everyone already had passengers. Eventually, we were able to make it further into town and explore an artisan area. The local crafts and clothing are nothing short of beautiful and I'm sure we all wished a few times that we had space to bring more things home. It is amazing what people can make! Also, worthy to take note here that I appreciate traveling with people who actually speak Spanish. There was a point today where I asked how I much I cost versus how much an item cost. Yep. True story. Please feel free to laugh and know that I was not given a monetary answer. :) Thankfully, the lady helping me out also gave me a brief Spanish lesson and a laugh. I was able to trade some French in return.
With that, we headed back for dinner and a night in.
Buenas noches
- CLW
Monday, September 1, 2014
Coca Tea and Taxis
Here we are! 24 hours of travel later, we made it to our host family's apartment. Rosana and Lucho have been so sweet to us; they had smiles, food ready, good stories, and a place to rest. After visiting for a bit, we all crashed for five hours to try to catch up on our lack of sleep.
Lunch time was followed by an orientation from Celeste and our tour guide for Machu Picchu. It was a good check in about cultural customs and expectations as well as an overview of the itinerary for our trip. You'll hear a synopsis soon enough, but this trip is going to be packed and go by far too quickly!
Today we learned a couple of things:
Coca tea is a lifesaver at high altitude! No headaches for us. :)
Also, all five of us managed to fit into a car slightly smaller than a Toyota Echo as a taxi into town. I think there is a picture somewhere of how we all managed to squish in the backseat. Haha
We walked around the plaza for a bit tonight (sunset is around 5:30) and there are so many amazing sites to see! We found the 12 sided rock... After walking past it three times and asking for directions. Whoops!
Off to bed to sleep a bit before an early morning at the school tomorrow. Manos Unidas, ready or not, here we come!
- Catey Lynne
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)