Back to Haiti for
the third time in 4 years. Things that have not changed are the crazy
driving conditions, the trash everywhere, the smiles when one says
“Bonjou” to a Haitian when walking down the street, and the still
present although less high and less frequent piles of rubble from the
earthquake. It is actually hard to find a tent city and many of the
tent communities seem to have been made more into neighborhoods with
at least somewhat less flimsy structures.
The therapy clinic
at Global Therapy is now within walking distance to the guesthouse
where volunteers stay. The clinic had its grand opening last month.
It is a large Green structure open on two sides (with sliding bars to
keep out animals and thieves) with ceiling fans, parallel bars, a
large therapy mat and one plinth. When we get to the clinic around
nine every morning there are patients sitting outside waiting for us.
They come first thing in the am and are seen in the order that they
come. An appointment system was tried but the patients seem to like
their own way of doing it. No one seems the least bit upset about
having to wait. They all know that they will have their turn.
Some patients walk
to get to us, some come in cars, or on tap taps- a sort of colorful
community bus system- and many arrive via motorcycle with anywhere
from 2-5 people on them, many times carrying babies or small children
as well as people with hemiplegia due to stroke.
This
is the most common reason that patients are seen at the clinic,
followed by young children with disabilities, and least common people
who were injured in the earthquake. I am primarily an orthopedic PT
so the neurologic patients and small children are not the typical
patients that I see. But having been a PT for 30 years in a variety
of settings I still have things to offer them to help them to
function better. After three days in the clinic I am spending a lot
of time encouraging patients to try to use their hemiplegic arm and
hand as much as possible. I saw a woman on Monday whose daughter and
son were helping her to get dressed. After assessing her hand it was
clear that she could do more. I had her pick up some small objects
using a pinch grip. She had no idea that she was capable of this.
Today when she came back she told me that she was able to put on her
blouse and button it herself! It is these small victories, the charm
of the Haitian people, the warmth of the family that runs the guest
house, and most of all the chance to make a real difference in at
least a few Haitians that keeps me coming back to Haiti.
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