Today was just a good day of therapy! It is still a little
slow for my tastes, but I got to be a therapist so that was nice. There is a
really interesting stroke patient in the ward. She is very ataxic (poor control
of movements). The beds are all too tall so I was pretty nervous having her
stand up today. Luckily, she did okay. She managed to walk about 10 feet with
max assist from Celestine and I using a wheeled walker. It was like holding
onto your very very drunk friend and trying to keep them from falling over. I
wish I had a set of parallel bars here. It would allow me to work on her
balance a little more without worrying about her falling. I think I will visit
the carpenter and see how much it would cost. The gym would really benefit from
that.
There is actually another burn patient in the ward. This
patient is a middle age man. He was in a boat fire. He has 2nd
degree burns over his back and waist and then 3rd degree burns over
his feet and lower legs. The doctor says he’s being lazy since he won’t get out
of bed. I told the doctor that I’d be lazy too if I had burns over my entire
body. Yes, the man doesn’t want to walk, but I think it is due to fear and
pain! I couldn’t get the man to walk today. He said he was having too much
pain. I believe him, but I also tried explaining to him how important is to
start moving now before contractures and stiffness sets in. I think I was
talking to the wall. Unfortunately, therapy is not a passive treatment like
taking a pill. You can only force someone so much to participate. He said he
would get up tomorrow. Hopefully, Celestine will be successful!
The little boy with the burns was less scared of me today. I
could tell it was painful for him, but we are maintaining his motion!! As long
as he does not get an infection, I think he will survive; thus, it is so
important that we keep his skin flexible!!! His mother said he wanted to walk
today so we tried to stand him. Unfortunately, there was just no good place for
me to support him without putting a lot of pressure on his burns and so he
wouldn’t stand on his legs. He did sit up in bed for a few minutes though and
clapped his hands with me! We asked him to wave bye to us and he shook his head
“no”! Haha! Hopefully, that means he is feeling better.
I walked to the orphanage after the hospital today. Mama
wasn’t around so I didn’t get to stay and play with the kids. Hopefully, I will
be able to start helping there next week. It will really just be a way for me
to pass the time since workdays are only 6 hours long here. Luckily, I do not
think they have any kids there right now who need PT!
Tomorrow, I have to go back to Ho to pick up my passport.
They better have stamped it to extend my visa. I feel so naked without my
passport!! I think we are going to a funeral in Grace’s village this weekend.
It should be very interesting.
Love, Kari
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