Let it Rain
Luxury of luxuries: rain
Just as we arrive back at the house after another day
working with children in the bateys, the sky opens up and it pours. After the
hot, hot, hot (did I mention hot?) dusty morning, this is beyond refreshing.
We place buckets outdoors to gather the miraculous bonus of extra fresh
water, some of which we'll use to launder our clothes. Co-team leader Karen Anderson steps out into the downpour and shampoos
her hair. It’s the longest shower (and best water pressure) she’ll get all
week.
Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s fatigue after these challenging
days, but the team is quiet and reflective.
Co-team leader Debra Voulalas is making her third Global
Health trip, her second as a team leader. She says: “The beauty of it for me is
that connection you make with a child or family. It crosses all boundaries.”
A pediatrician at the CHOP Care Network – Market Street, where
she has been practicing since 1991, Deb cares for a diverse community of
patients in West Philadelphia. Here in the Dominican Republic, that experience
serves her well. “Issues of parents and children are the same everywhere,” she
says.
Deb particularly relishes the opportunities to spend a
little extra time with a family – not easy amidst the rush of patients that
flood the clinic each day. In one batey visit this week, she examined a healthy
month-old baby. The child’s mother was 17 years old. Somehow, there was enough
of a lull in the action that Deb was able to sit and talk with the young woman,
counseling her on feeding and sleeping issues, concerns every new parent has.
“It’s great to have that educational experience, which can really make a
difference.”
Over the course of her three trips, Deb has seen the
relationship between Dominican and American team members grow: “There is so
much mutual respect and trust,” she notes.
Asked about her goals for this trip, Deb says: “I hope I can
relieve suffering. I hope I can impart some knowledge that can make a
difference in these children’s lives. And I hope to help provide a good
experience for the team.”
All in all, not a bad day’s work.
Posted at 09:32PM Nov 06, 2009
by Linda Lightner in Health |
Posted by Cheryl Gowin on November 13, 2010 at 05:07 PM EST #