Monday, June 3, 2013

Missionaries of the Highway

After a delicious pancake breakfast, our group, consisting of Lauren Krabacher, Brittany Schmidt, Emily Mertz, Allison Jordan, Gina Knebel, Megan Lessard, Kristen Galloway, and Megan O’Malley, headed out with our driver Rolando to Missionaries of the Highway. Missionaries of the Highway is a clinic and residential facility for children with a variety of physical and mental disabilities. We divided forces and four of us worked in a therapy room on sensory processing issues and the other four made wheelchair adjustments. The workers at our site prepared us with a list of clients for all four days, which averaged 7-8 children in each room per day for 50 minute sessions.

Many of the children utilized the services in both rooms, including a delightful, young girl named Vivian who has Cerebral Palsy. Covered with smiles the entire time, Vivian loved playing with toys in the sensory room, specifically a ring stacking game. Every time Vivian successfully placed a ring on the wooden rod, a wide smile spread across her face, her arms flew out to the side, and she looked expectantly to everyone in the room, waiting for applause. Luckily Vivian was such a happy client, because her wheelchair repairs took several hours to complete. She and her mother patiently waited and were very appreciative for all that we did for them. Vivian left with a fully adjusted wheel chair, seating instructions, and a care plan from the sensory room filled with pictures and directions to continue her exercises at home.

Our day was filled with many good moments as well as a few less tasteful ones including Emily Mertz’s encounter with a one-year-old “Señor,” as Emily likes to call him. Trying to sooth his cries, Emily held “Señor” and was delighted to find puke on her shoulder that continued down her back. This incident did not appear to be enough for “Senor” and Emily, so they topped off the session with some puke on Emily’s other shoulder. Needless to say, she smelled like a baker’s dozen of chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven.
Throughout the day, we worked with six children in wheelchairs. We are ready to take on the three new wheelchair challenges that we already have waiting for us tomorrow, plus the others that are sure to arrive with each appointment. We have a full load of clients scheduled for tomorrow, and we cannot wait to pick up right where we left off.
As occupational therapy students, we have learned so much in only one day of service about what it takes to be occupational therapists. With limited resources, we must invent creative ways to meet the needs of each child. Hopefully tomorrow is filled with as many wonderful memories as today, if not more! (Though we could get by without any puke :)

Hasta Luego!

Lauren Krabacher, OT Student and Rachel’s sister
Brittany Schmidt, OT Student and Baller

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