Home
« Reflections - A... | Main | Global Health Team... »
Saturday Nov 21, 2009

A Labor of Love: Therapists Exchange Ideas - A Guest Blog Entry

By Carla Campbell, M.D., M.S. 

Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (Our Little Brothers) is an organization that provides a home to orphans or abandoned children needing their services. The goal is to create a place where these children can live with love and hope.  The program seeks to instill confidence, security, independence, and responsibility in the children, and most importantly, provide them with an education.  The children, in turn, do a year of service in one of the NPH orphanages when they become adults. Founded by priest William Wasson after he caught a child stealing from the offering can and decided to take him in, the group has been in existence since 1954 and has orphanages in Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic.  The DR orphanage was opened in 2003 and houses about 200 children.  

The team’s two therapists, Natalie Danner (terapista fisica) and Soby Philip (terapista ocupacional), and a few other team members took a very interesting trip to see the NPH site in the Dominican Republic, which is located outside of San Pedro de Macoris.  The compound extends for about 40 acres and includes 15 dormitory-style houses, a clinic, a library, two schools, an office, a kitchen, water tank, water purification plant, a huge greenhouse growing tomatoes and lettuce, a garden with papaya and banana plants, several playgrounds, a park with flower gardens, and beautiful bright murals on the walls (inside and outside).  The PT room is airy and welcoming, with toys and bright colors everywhere. On one wall is a mural showing characters from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.  Beyond the buildings are green fields and lots of blue (or gray when rain is threatening) skies.

I had the chance to visit one of the dormitories housing teenage boys from 12 to 15 years old.  They were attending grades 7 and 8. The bulletin board in the common room was very organized and included a chore chart, schedule for sports practice, rules for maintaining peace and rules for courtesy. They boys seemed happy and were very polite.  A few practiced English with me.  I shared a meal of fish, rice and beans with them and spoke to the tia (aunt) who is housemother to them. (Each communal house has two tias who share coverage through the week).

After the two American therapists became acquainted with the two German therapists providing service at NPH, they started exchanging ideas and notes, and were chattering away at a mile a minute.  Nikki had been at the orphanage for awhile, and at one point was providing the physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT) and speech therapy for all the children! She was recently joined by Katarina, who has been there for 6 weeks. 

I had the chance to observe Natalie working with Nikki to determine the best therapeutic approach for a boy who had bad contractures, was very disabled, and unable to talk.  They talked about ways to loosen his tone to exercise his muscles and discussed feeding techniques.  They worked in the PT room and also at the home dedicated to special needs children.  When Natalie works with children her lovely face lights up with enthusiasm and joy, and she seems to put 200% effort into every encounter she performs.  Soby, likewise, is very dedicated to providing quality care to her little patients.  It was very exciting to see these 4 therapists from different backgrounds bond together to exchange ideas and notes about providing the best care possible to the children they serve.  A true labor of love!

 

 

 

Posted at 01:03PM Nov 21, 2009 by Linda Lightner in Health  |  Comments[23]

Comments:

That's really nice article.All the children should to get more intention because I think that all of them are our hope.Even the orphans, adopted child or children with their families, They all need love.The childhood is very important stage to help them growing up to be a good adults.I had been to the orphans organization in Thailand.They took care the children very good but only one problem is they didn't have enough staff to foster all of them.

Posted by Amil on December 12, 2009 at 03:17 PM EST #

Nice to see an organization providing homes to orphans or abandoned children. As well I believe that their goal to create a place where these children can live with love and hope while instilling confidence is certainly and most importantly being accomplished.

Posted by Mac on August 05, 2010 at 07:00 PM EDT #

Often as Physical Therapists we are so busy treating our patients, worrying about productivity, etc.. That it is true that we don't always get the chance to bounce ideas around with our fellow PTs. I think that is a great shame we don't do more of what you refer to in your blog post.

Posted by Physical Therapy Continuing Education on November 12, 2010 at 12:19 AM EST #

technology can can really change the means of communication, you can interact with other processionals like you in just one click

Posted by Gian Carlo plasticsurgeoninsydney.com.au on December 16, 2010 at 05:27 AM EST #

thanks for post. i like it so much.

Posted by john brady on December 16, 2010 at 03:57 PM EST #

Even the orphans, adopted child or children with their families, They all need love.

Posted by torrent download on December 17, 2010 at 05:51 AM EST #

What a wonderful story - it is a fabulous thing that there are people out there who are generous and are giving of their talents. Giving these kids the chance for access to therapy services that we take for granted is such a gift.

Posted by Seattle Therapist on December 27, 2010 at 02:37 PM EST #

The Christmas season is a most appropriate time to spread the Christmas spirit and for these children to know the real meaning of Christmas, loving and sharing. After all, Christmas is for the children.

Posted by Wade Cockfield on January 03, 2011 at 05:19 AM EST #

Therapists Exchange Ideas? Could this be a train wreck? Not when professionalism shines true! Great Blog...

Posted by Port a Potty M.D. on January 04, 2011 at 04:34 PM EST #

Nice article to read it will help me in many ways thanks for this article.

Posted by plastic surgery los angeles on January 05, 2011 at 03:16 AM EST #

I like the way you make this article. You have a personal touch with this content. Thanks for posting.

Posted by clint herman on January 07, 2011 at 08:24 AM EST #

These kids are really the ones that need love the most. I really appreciate that these therapists spend time with them. They must have a high calling to do this ministry. It really is a true labor of love.

Posted by Edenjoy @ Seasonal Affective Disorder Light Therapy on January 11, 2011 at 09:04 PM EST #

Very intriguing article. Had me realize I was entirely inaccurate about this content. I suppose one learns something different daily. I like your blog. Will be back really soon!

Posted by TaxRefundGuarantee on January 12, 2011 at 09:47 AM EST #

These "abandoned kids" deserved a second chance to a better life. It is comforting to know that someone is still doing this for them.

Posted by Sport Betting on January 13, 2011 at 05:37 AM EST #

All the children should to get more intention because I think that all of them are our hope.Even the orphans,

Posted by hemorrhoids home remedy on January 16, 2011 at 10:25 AM EST #

There are simply not enough organizations that provide a home to orphans or abandoned children needing their services.

Posted by Mike Duggan on January 16, 2011 at 03:22 PM EST #

What a great program. I like how the children involved have to give back as well.

Posted by Best Video Baby Monitor on January 16, 2011 at 09:56 PM EST #

Its great to see others that are giving back to their community and making a difference in someone's life. I think this is very important to do in life and hopefully more people will start to get involved

Posted by Mumbai Dating on January 16, 2011 at 11:20 PM EST #

Very commendable operation. Here in atlanta there simply are not enough organizations like this. Too many turn their head to the growing plight of homeless children here. It is great to see people taking measures like this to help, especially in countries where there is very little available.

Posted by CNA Certification on January 18, 2011 at 11:16 PM EST #

Therapists exchanging ideas or any other professionals in the same field sharing their expertise can definitely do wonders. 2 or more brains are always better than one.

Posted by fat burning foods for women on January 19, 2011 at 03:00 PM EST #

That's very human of everyone. Love your fellow human beings and HELP them be better.

Posted by www.wholesaleinsurance.net/ on January 20, 2011 at 01:28 PM EST #

These therapists are great models for us to emulate. They show sincere love to children and help them without hesitation. We should follow their example so this world can be a better place for all of us especially to children to live in.

Posted by learn german on January 22, 2011 at 11:09 PM EST #

Hi, i love your blog and your articles are really well written! 10/10 =)

Posted by Work wear on January 24, 2011 at 12:08 PM EST #

Post a Comment:
  • HTML Syntax: NOT allowed
  • © 1996-2012 The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
    34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard
    Philadelphia, Pa. 19104
  • Main Number: 215-590-1000
  • Physician Referral Service: 1-800-879-2467
  • Coordinates: 39.9486937, -75.1929596
  • An Equal Opportunity Employer
  • The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability or veteran status.