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Guatemala Teaching Trip - A PT Perspective with Eric Pate
- Apr 19, 2016
I want to thank you all for supporting the efforts of Team Works. It is vital to know as a sender and supporter, that your gifts are making a lasting impact. This was my second time to Guatemala City. Our mission was primarily a teaching mission, in which we were invited to 3 locations, 2 of which were university students. Upon arriving, we went directly to "The Learning Spot", which is a teaching and learning center for kids with special needs, established by our long time partner in Guatamala, Diana Monzon de Matheu. While there, I was able to fit and donate a tilt-in-space wheel chair to a 4 year old young man with profound involvement (Spasity CP with hydrocephalus). In the chair, he was able to relax with improved head support. He and his mother were accompanied by a medical student in her final social service. After educating them as to how to seat him in the chair, I demonstrated how to break the chair down completely and put it back together. Then we had fun, as I asked them to do the same. With some struggles, they finally were able to do it correctly. His mother was so thankful. We were able to give some treatment ideas to several other families and their teachers and therapist.
On Friday we visited The National Hospital of Orthopedic and Rehabilitative Medicine, where we gave an overview of Children's Therapy TEAM and saw several patients in the morning with their therapist and the PT students from the National University. This was a wonderful opportunity to educate these new PT's on clinical decision making and specific considerations for each patient. As teams, we did trouble shooting and made some treatment focuses for which their current PT's could implement. After lunch, we gave presentations on various neurological disorders with a PT student translating. I discussed Cerebral Palsy, and gave descriptions of the types and categorization as well as the overall medical approach and PT treatment focuses.
On Saturday, we were invited to the University de Guatemala de Vallie to speak to Special Education students and Speech Pathology Students. Here we spoke to about 120 students. We gave an overview of Team Works as well as Children's Therapy TEAM followed by 3 work shops per therapist. Many of these professionals will be children's therapist in Guatemala, due to the limited care available for children with special needs in their country. I discussed wheel chair seating and mobility and power. In the wheel chair class, we focused on how to help kids and adults maximize their function and how to ensure good support. In discussing power, I educated on how important it is to recruit the maximum motor units possible and how to progress exercise programs. There were many wonderful questions from people that are already in the field working with these kids, while they are studying.
There are many thoughts and feelings I am processing about this experience, and here are a few, that as a supporter, you should know.
- It is never a mistake to express love and caring to others, but it is Christ that declares, "But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:16. As we begin to understand we are serving the kings of heaven, how we approach care for those so needy changes to become a privilege instead of an obligation or a decent act.
- By educating professionals well, we have a greater reach. In four days, we educated close to 200 professionals and parents.Each person they touch has your finger print.
- By reaching out to other nations, we promote unity in our world community. Often we get distracted with our boarders and fail to see the people of the world as Christ does. He sees them as dear loved ones that He longs to have in the family. Certainly our world has a long way to go, but reaching out in love is something most people will not only accept, but cling to.
I want to thank you for this opportunity to be a part of this trip and the honor of representing Team Works and Children's Therapy TEAM in Guatemala.
Sincerely,
Eric Pate
Please don't forget to check out the equipment and toy needs for TEAMworks Guatemala-May 2016.
