It's Coming Tomorrow (we think)!!

WOW, this week has been so busy on the adult PT side.  Monday I saw 8 patients, Tuesday 6 and today 9!!  It is true that God gives you strength to persevere through the though times.  There have been lines of patients waiting to get seen all week.  Today, there were women that were changing the order of papers so they could be seen faster.  Every patient comes in with such different situations.  A patient I had on Tuesday was diagnosed with MS 3 year ago.  She came in to the clinic in a wheelchair unable to move or talk and she had so much tone she was unable to lay supine without crying because of the pain she was having.  He husband brought her into the clinic and he was so sweet.  She is totally dependent on him in ALL of her daily activities.  The love and encouragement in his eyes almost moved me to tears during the session.  He was so involved in the treatment and we were teaching him positioning and different stretches to do at home.  Please be praying for this family and women for health and strength. 

Another patient that day was an older 5 foot nothing lady coming in because of back pain.  This women solely taught me the lesson of strength and perseverance.  She seemed to have some other problems then just musculoskelatal issues but we just treated the pain and told her to come back to receive a new cane when the shipment arrives.  It is really hard to paint a picture of the patients we see via blog.  I know I keep saying that I am just awe struck by the strength of the people in Peru and the determination they have in life to keep moving. 

One last patient I want to mention was a man who suffered a stroke 10 years ago.  My first impression of him was that he visablily looked like he was doing really well.  He was smiling and talking to the man who brought him to the clinic.  But after asking a few question I soon realize the there was deep pain in his life.  He lives alone in a rented room because he lost everything he had when he had the stroke.  He lays in bed all day and in the morning, afternoon and night his wife comes to visit and brings him food.  For me, it was hard to understand why his wife only visits him and he never has visitors.  So I made it my personal goal to do whatever I could to brighten this mans day.  He was very responsive to all of the exercises that we were giving him and I even thought of some different adaptive ideas he could use to make his exercises specific for him.  After the session, Tim, one of the PTs, was taking measurements to fit him into a new wheelchair and we sparked up a conversation about music.  It turns out that he used to be quite the singer and he loves Frank Sinatra.  He left the session teaching me a new song and giving me his card to send him a postcard.  I know I said it before but all it takes is a smile or a friendly hello to make all the difference in someones life, even if you do not know the impact that you are making. 

On a happy note, we think that the container of equipment should be here tomorrow afternoon. So we may actually see the stuff we packed before we fly out!

Tonight at the house was out final dinner with everyone :-(.  It is going to be really hard leaving here tomorrow.  Everyone has been so nice and we all have gotten to close.  We had our MMI talent show tonight.  The acts ranged from a rap made up to the fresh prince theme song to the top 10 things of the MMI PT Peru Mission of 2010 complete with Skyped in guests. The 3 of us did head, shoulders, knees and toes in spanish... but not actually well.  Pray for everyones safe travels over the next few days as some of us are traveling home and some are traveling to go sight seeing around the country.