Today was probably the most rewarding day for me. We went to the San Ignacio nursing home. At first I was not looking forward to it because geriatrics make me sad, but when I got to the nursing home I jumped right in. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday a 70 year old woman named Dorothy does therapy for the elderly so today all the aspiring OTs got to participate.
I walked into the small therapy room and was introduced to an 87 year old woman, Celia. Celia has osteoporosis and was very hunched over in her wheelchair. Dorothy showed me how to get her up and walk with her and so I did. We walked across the room and back a few times but she was terrified of falling so we had to take breaks. Because she is hunched over she felt like she was falling so to help straighten her back I was told by Dorothy to wrap my arms around her body and use my body to straighten her up. Getting to be hands on in therapy made me so excited because that's what I live for!
After therapy we went outside to the deck where other residents were sitting and hanging out with other students. Celia has a certain spot where she can sit and see the garden. Celia and I talked for hours, we even cried. She told me how she was a nurse for 25 years in Belize City and until two years ago her husband looked after her, but since his death she lived in the nursing home. Celia cried because she was frustrated with her body, her mind is good but her body is slowly getting bad. She told me "I was once a woman but now I am a child again" I broke into tears when she said this my heart hurt for her. She told me sometimes she feels sorry for herself but she knows that is not what God would want so she asks for God's forgiveness and is thankful she is alive. We spoke on religion and even though she is Catholic and I am Christian our beliefs are the same. At one point she asked me to pray for her, so I wrapped my arms around her and began to pray. I was overwhelmed by tears but I made it through the prayer and she looked at me and said "thank you Meagan." Those three words were the highlight of my day. Anytime I did something for her she would say those three words.
During lunch I fed Celia because she can't feed herself. Her right arm is out of joint and with her age it is to risky to fix and her fingers on both hands have started clenching so holding a fork is challenging for her. I have never feed an elderly person but today it was an honor. Celia touched my heart and I felt such a bond with her. At one point today I felt like I was where I was supposed to be. As much as I love children maybe I am meant for geriatrics. I don't know what my future holds only God himself does but I feel like coming to Belize and meeting Celia is apart of his plan for my life. Celia will forever be in my heart because she has inspired me in many ways. I am so thankful to have met her.
Before I left she said she wished I could stay a whole year but because I can't she asked if I would come back while I am in Belize. When I told her I would love to come back and see her she told me she was not special enough for me to do that. Once again I cried because in the four hours I was with her she became special to me. Celia will always have a place in my heart and when I think of Belize I'll think of her.
I walked into the small therapy room and was introduced to an 87 year old woman, Celia. Celia has osteoporosis and was very hunched over in her wheelchair. Dorothy showed me how to get her up and walk with her and so I did. We walked across the room and back a few times but she was terrified of falling so we had to take breaks. Because she is hunched over she felt like she was falling so to help straighten her back I was told by Dorothy to wrap my arms around her body and use my body to straighten her up. Getting to be hands on in therapy made me so excited because that's what I live for!
After therapy we went outside to the deck where other residents were sitting and hanging out with other students. Celia has a certain spot where she can sit and see the garden. Celia and I talked for hours, we even cried. She told me how she was a nurse for 25 years in Belize City and until two years ago her husband looked after her, but since his death she lived in the nursing home. Celia cried because she was frustrated with her body, her mind is good but her body is slowly getting bad. She told me "I was once a woman but now I am a child again" I broke into tears when she said this my heart hurt for her. She told me sometimes she feels sorry for herself but she knows that is not what God would want so she asks for God's forgiveness and is thankful she is alive. We spoke on religion and even though she is Catholic and I am Christian our beliefs are the same. At one point she asked me to pray for her, so I wrapped my arms around her and began to pray. I was overwhelmed by tears but I made it through the prayer and she looked at me and said "thank you Meagan." Those three words were the highlight of my day. Anytime I did something for her she would say those three words.
During lunch I fed Celia because she can't feed herself. Her right arm is out of joint and with her age it is to risky to fix and her fingers on both hands have started clenching so holding a fork is challenging for her. I have never feed an elderly person but today it was an honor. Celia touched my heart and I felt such a bond with her. At one point today I felt like I was where I was supposed to be. As much as I love children maybe I am meant for geriatrics. I don't know what my future holds only God himself does but I feel like coming to Belize and meeting Celia is apart of his plan for my life. Celia will forever be in my heart because she has inspired me in many ways. I am so thankful to have met her.
Before I left she said she wished I could stay a whole year but because I can't she asked if I would come back while I am in Belize. When I told her I would love to come back and see her she told me she was not special enough for me to do that. Once again I cried because in the four hours I was with her she became special to me. Celia will always have a place in my heart and when I think of Belize I'll think of her.
After my morning with Celia I had lunch with a few others on the trip at a restaurant called Guava Limb. This restaurant was so cute and the food was amazing. I had pineapple teriyaki chicken and banana layer cake!
We also got to visit one of the two hospitals in San Ignacio. This hospital is what is called a private hospital meaning the citizens have to pay to be seen. The hospital is under reconstruction in some areas making it nicer than it was but it is still no where near what the hospitals in America are like. We actually donated supplies to the hospital in San Ignacio from St. Mary's Hospitsl in Athens (where my mommy works). Seeing how deprived health care is in this part of Belize makes me thankful to be an American citizen but it also makes me happy knowing that I am able to help the citizens of Belize while I am here!
Tomorrow is more blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol testing!
Tomorrow is more blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol testing!