2010 Pine Ridge Trip
This place is indescribable. The feelings that run through you are unlike any other. In this “circle” world, there is no need for a mask to guard you, no fear of judgment, but rather an acceptance, an understanding, and a warm “blanket” of family.
Part of our family left us today, back to the “square” world, but there are no goodbyes. It’s doksha – see you later. Within a matter of seven days, we formed this close bond and became family. It was as if we were all meant to be here together, a unique blend that really made this trip unlike any other. We all come away from this experience with the memory of each other, what we have learned, and the hope to spread that knowledge in the “square” world.
Thank you for your prayers!
2010 Mission Trip to Guatemala
We are back in Nashville! We arrived late last night with two smooth flights. We appreciate all of your prayers and support through this incredible, unforgetable trip to Guatemala City. We will try to get some pictures up so that all of you can see what we have been up to. God bless.
Belmont Nursing University’s Rice Drive
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Emily Tice
Waking up at 5am on our only day off was not exactly what I had in mind this Saturday morning, but what the Lord had in store for us later that day made a few less hours of sleep well worth it. Our team traveled with members of the church and hospital to a village (Oudong village – I probably spelled that wrong) in the mountains about 1 1/2 hours away. This village recently relocated (for reasons I cannot remember) next to an established village, but lives in severe poverty. Here these families make a house out of garbage, straw and anything else they can find, but unfortunately due to the rainy season fastly approaching, these “houses” flood and do not provide adequate shelter during the rain. These people are also without many food supplies and provisions, including birth control, which explains the rapid increase in pregnancies and births throughout the village (no doctors are nearby so a grandmother non-trained midwife delivers the babies in these horrible conditions).
We supplied each family (that’s 180 families) within the village with salt, sugar, sardines, milk, purified water, soy sauce and most importantly rice. This food (depending on the size of the family) will nourish them for 3-4 weeks if not more. How awesome it is to serve such a giving God as ours. He truly amazed me today.
Ahhhhh! (screams from 219 ft above the coffee fields)
2010 Mission Trip to Guatemala
Buenos Dias! Today is the day we head back to the states. It is beautiful here this morning after a rainy night. Yesterday was a full day and we arrived back at the seminary late last night. We have met so many wonderful people here in Guatemala and it was sad to say our goodbyes yesterday at the Children’s hospital. One little boy found out that it was our last day there and wanted to sing for Linnea Jordan, a 2nd year PT student, who had been working with him this week. He was shy about it, so he hid behind a curtain. So precious! We were able to see a case study of a patient with Guillen-Barre and were able to give suggestions as well as learn the exercises and treatments they were applying. After many goodbyes to both the patients and the PTs, OTs, and nurses at the hospital we headed to Antigua. Antigua is a beautiful city in Guatemala with many shops and colorful buildings. We drove to a coffee plantation in Antigua.
Dahlgren Wins Chaney Distinguised Professor Award
Lucyellen Dahlgren, Instructor of Nursing, was selected as the 2010 Chaney Distinguished Professor at Belmont University, the highest award presented to a faculty member at the university. The award was presented at the university’s graduation ceremonies on May 16th. One of three finalists for the award, Lucyellen was selected from more than 90 faculty nominees. On behalf of the College of Health Sciences and the School of Nursing, congratulations Lucyellen!
A note from the nurses: Emergencia!
2010 Mission Trip to Guatemala
from: Natalie Eaton, Megan Oakley & Beth Higney
Hello from the nurses! Sorry we haven’t updated lately, we couldn’t get to the computer last night but hope we got your attention with the title. No, there was no emergency but we did spend Thursday working in the emergency room at the Children’s Hospital.
After utilizing the translator we were able to meet with the director of the hospital and arrange the opportunity for us to work in the pediatric emergency room on Thursday. The translator was so helpful and made it possible for us to finally express how much we really want to help. Yesterday was the first day that we were asked to really jump in and “do” something. I think it took a couple of days for them to warm up to us and really see how much we know and how much we really can help. The nursing roles here are a bit different compared to the states. For example, nurses do not do any assessments on the patients; in fact, we have yet to see one use a stethoscope. Luckily, we had a translator and one of the doctors in the ER spoke English. We were able to help with assessments and initial diagnosis as the patients came in. We administered medications, started IVs, and drew blood. Like we stated earlier, things are done a little bit different here but it is interesting to see how their hospital units function.
The Way I See It
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Chelsea Stevens
Well, today was an incredibly emotionally draining day for me (and many of us), so I am going to use today’s blog to kind of unload and filter through my thoughts. While Kim went on the hospitals mobile clinic and Stephanie worked the emergency room and operating room, the other three of us (Emily, Victoria, and I) had our turn to go out to the slums to talk with the HIV patients. Because we had a lot of time, we got to sit in their houses with them and have conversations through our interpreter Chaveleth.
Walking through this area of garbage and insects and who knows what else, I couldn’t help but think to all of the many things I take for granted. It really was an emotionally challenging day to us and to Kim and Stephanie yesterday because you see these people who have nothing and live with a disease that is so challenging, and you wonder how they have a will to get up in the morning. But not only do they have that, they have smiles on their faces and joke about the little things just like we do. While sitting with them, they told us of how they looked before they got on the Anti-retro Virus drug that helps the patients with HIV. They would laugh about how they gain so much weight once getting on the drug and would joke of how different our skin looks from theirs. One woman, in order to make a living for herself and her two children, sweeps the streets at night. But instead of letting her situation bring her down, she picks up posters and pictures people throw away and hangs them on her walls in order to decorate her small tin hut. She was so pleased that we liked them and it brought a huge smile to her face just to show off her little treasures.
Today’s theme: Surprise (times 50)
2010 Mission Trip to Guatemala
Today was filled with many surprises. We had many schedule changes and had to be flexible.
Physical Therapy
Today, one group went to the Children’s Hospital and the other group went to the Shalom School and the University. The group at the Children’s Hospital had a very productive day again. Today was tennis day in PT which was very interesting and fun (and HOT!!!!!). A tennis professional came in and worked with the kids to increase their hand eye coordination. We asked and were allowed to have the two boys with Guillen-Barre participate while standing to increase their strength and endurance. We also asked if these two could stop using their wheelchairs altogether, and the therapists agreed to give it a try.
Eye Opening
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Kim Engholm
Today was a day full of new and heart wrenching experiences. We began our day at a support group meeting for HIV patients. I volunteered to be the spokesperson for our group. We stressed the importance of taking their medication and taking it on time. Apparently, it meant more coming from us because we are foreigners, and we were wearing scrubs. The meeting was very eye opening to me to see how devastating the effects of HIV are physically, mentally, and emotionally. For example, this was some patients first time to visit because they were ashamed, and others were completely abandoned by their families. After the meeting we split off to go back to the hospital (Chelsea, Emily, and Victoria) and to HIV home visits (me and Stephanie).
The social worker led us to the “newer” slums that were mostly made of concrete. There was dirt, filth, and graffiti everywhere. The first room we came to was a 10 by 20 single room that had about 13 people living in it. We moved down the hall so we could see an aerial view of the “older”slums. It literally looked like a dump with trash haphazardly thrown everywhere. Stephanie and I wanted to take more pictures, but we were too focused on where we were walking. We stepped over every piece of trash imaginable each in a different state of decomposition. Two things that stuck out in my mind were the smell and the noise. It smelt like a trashcan, sewer, old food, and body odor all at once. It featured the sounds of a busy city, babies crying hysterically, people yelling, and food cooking in grease. The “houses” were small, made out of tin, and had at least one wall missing. Others were made out of concrete four stories high. There was no clean water or electricity, and water and wastes ran off from the floors above us.
Mystical
2010 Pine Ridge Trip
Mystical is the one word I would choose to decribe Pine Ridge, SD. This reservation town as well as he surrounding community has shared the spiritual essence of the lakota people with us.
Yesterday we were at the Crazy Horse Memorial. When complete this monument carved intot the Black Hills will be the largest monument on the globe. We’re so blessed to have Leonard Little Finger with us on our journey, because he shares his stories with us at each significant place in Native American History. We discuss the irony of blasting out a giant edifice of a great warrior,Crazy Horse in what has been held as sacred ground for hundreds of years.I’m so proud of our students; challenging what they see and hear as well as their own preformed values and beliefs. For the past two nights we’ve watched films on Wounded Knee 1 and 2 (look it up) and afterwards engaged in discussion on the relationships between the indifenous people and the European descendants who landed here centuries ago. I can’t wait for what lies ahead for the rest of the week.
Our pharmacy teamwill be starting a community relations project this Friday so stay tuned for more!
“Lift as you climb”
2010 Mission Trip to Guatemala
We would like to preface this by apologizing for our error yesterday by replacing split with splint… Now onto our day!!!
The Guatemala team was split up into groups again today. One group went to Fundabiem while the other went to the Children’s hospital. At the Children’s Hospital OTs had an exciting day. The students, under the supervision of the practitioners, were able to be extremely hands on during treatment sessions. Upon entering the OT room, students and practitioners were excited to see previous suggestions given to Guatemalan therapists implemented in their practice. The therapists were putting more emphasis on placing the patient in a correct posture in order to further functional ability. The students and practitioners got to observe a group session conducted by Guatemalan occupational therapy students. During the group, the children showed enthusiasm while taking part in preparing a chicken salad that they later would get to enjoy. The PTs came into the group session to help work with the children on posturing. A break was taken for lunch and everyone enjoyed another home cooked meal while sitting in the sun. After lunch, OT students and practitioners worked collaboratively with Guatemalan therapists to create a splint for a child.
Dr. Allison serves on Alumni Board
Dr. Linda Allison, associate professor at Belmont University School of Pharmacy, is continuing a second term as an officer for the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s Alumni Society Board of Governors. Allison is a member of the School’s Class of 1981. The 20-member board represents the interests of the 2,268 graduates of the School and serves as the official vehicle for alumni to maintain personal and professional relationships to the School. The board provides governance of the Alumni Society including oversight of the Distinguished Alumni Award program, Student Resource Fund and the School of Medicine Foundation’s annual alumni fund campaigns as well as advises on continuing medical education programming.
OH SUSAN!!!
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Victoria Kaelin
Today was our first day in the Center for Hope Hospital. Phalla met us outside the hospital to take us on a tour of where we would be working for the next two weeks. The hospital is a lot different than I expected, a lot more advanced. All the nurses were so excited to see Mrs. Taplin, they were all saying OH SUSAN!!!.
They were very happy that we had come to help them and told us that the people of Cambodia would be very gracious for our presence. I was in the OR today, and it was awesome. I got to watch three surgeries and talk to several of the surgeons and nurses. I was amazed at how much that the surgeons and nurses could do for these people. I really did not know what to expect of their operating room, but it was very nice.
“No more Chanel bags for Bill or Angelina Jolie”
2010 Mission Trip to Guatemala
So Mom’s not much luck on staying healthy today but all sickly individuals have bounced back and feel much better as of now… We are hoping it stays that way.
Today the groups splint into teams one traveling to the Children’s Hospital and the other going to the Shalom School, the University, and the soup kitchen.
The individuals who went to the Children’s Hospital splint up into their specific disciplines. In the OT clinic students worked hands on with a group of children working on sensory stimulation. They used rice, coffee beans, and different textures of cloth as sensory tools. The students and practitioners observed Guatemalan OTs evaluating a patient with severe CP with multiple serious medical issues. Once the evaluation was complete the Guatemalan OTs asked the students and practitioners for suggestions. The differences in techniques were evident but both were open to communication and excited to learn from one another.
The Three Areas of Focus
2010 Pine Ridge Trip
There are three areas of focus that Leonard Little Finger has described to us. They are the physical, the spiritual, and the metaphysical.
We, as individuals, have our bodies, our minds, our souls, and then we have the souls from the spirit world. If we are able to appreciate the quiet, to truly immerse ourselves into it, we can find the influence that each of these have on our ability to engage in our existence. The Lakota beliefs and customs concentrate on this. To deny yourself exposure to this way of thinking, to this way of life, is to deprive yourself of the true journey.
Feels Like Home
2010 Pine Ridge Trip
What a wonderful experience it’s been. The second I arrived, all I wanted to do was be outside. It feels like home in more than one sense.
It’s now Tuesday, May 18 and it’s a beautiful day in Oglala. Yesterday was a memorable experience. The group built a Lakota teepee together and had time to reflect out in the hills. The teepee is a symbol of the link between heaven and earth (the triangles and inverted triangles meeting where they cross). What is in heaven is on earth, and vice versa. Once the teepee was finished, Stanley Good Voice, with his young counterparts, presented us with unique Native American music from various ceremonies that are held within the culture. We even got to do the Circle Dance! But we’ve met so many people here and they’re all a piece of “wonderful”.
Yesterday, Leonard Little Finger, one of the elders, honored me with making me his niece; he is my “lekshi” – my uncle. This was very special to me because he said he felt like I was family and I felt the same. It’s difficult to explain, but you just know . It’s a feeling you have inside you. I truly love these people here and feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be. Having my sister here to share it with is also an experience that I wouldn’t trade – family is so important out here and I’m so fortunate & lucky to have mine physically here with me.
Until next time…
Hey lady, tuk tuk?
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Stephanie Brooks
We have arrived in Phnom Penh! It has been one hot, fantastic day! After settling into our hotel, we walked down the street to a cafe for lunch that had amazingly good food– pumpkin soup (the group favorite), lime soda, and pizza for those of us who needed a little break from Asian cuisine! We seemed to cool off a bit during lunch, but once we reached the market all bets were off. There is more stuff crammed into a teeny tiny space than I thought humanly possible. Mrs. Taplin knows many of the dealers, though, so we got the best quality and lowest price. Needless to say, we became shopaholics (well… I was a shopaholic)… Most of us walked home with armfuls of merchandise, some for ourselves and some for you at home! 🙂
Our mode of transportation to and from the market was by tuk tuk, a small motorcycle with a buggy hooked to the back. Not only did we experience Cambodian culture by riding in a tuk tuk, we experienced the whirlwind of a dozen tuk tuk drivers waiting outside our hotel to let them drive us. They practically came running at us! We only needed two, so it was a tough choice. From every angle we heard, “Hey lady, tuk tuk?” We were glad to give business to the chosen ones!
“Back that bus up!”
2010 Mission Trip to Guatemala
To start our day we had a delicious breakfast and headed on the school bus to the Children’s Hospital. Once we arrived at the hospital the guard was not sure if he could let us through the gate. After 10 minutes of blocking all traffic we ended up backing through 8 lanes of traffic (traveling both ways) needless to say anyone in the 8 lanes of traffic was late to work… BEEEEEP is all we heard!! Although passengers were very worried we made it through safely with no casualties.
“Tell me why”
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Kim Engholm
We began our day meeting three young University students from Hanoi: Heng (Hung), Hong (Home), and Linh (Ling). They served as our tour guides and guardian angles for the day by negotiating everything from taxi rides to shoe prices. They took us to the University of Literature that served as the first University of Hanoi that began over 1000 years ago. Today, it serves as a museum and temple where students come to pray before their final exams. If prayer is not enough, some students will rub the head of one of the ancient stone turtles for luck and good fortune. We then made our way across town to Salt Lake to visit another temple. This temple was unique because it was in the middle of the lake and featured a cremated turtle. Taking in the culture of the temples was truly a unique experience, and one I am sure we shall never forget.
We made it!
2010 Mission Trip to Guatemala
Just a quick little blog as we drive down the roads of Guatemala City. We have all arrived safe and sound after an EARLY morning, very long layover in Miami, and a adventurous landing in the rain. We are on the way to take a tour of the Shalom Surgery Center. More to come later!!
Haiti Update #11
Jen Watters Haiti Blog
Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 2:50pm
Bonswa tout moun! (Good afternoon everyone)!
I am sitting here, thinking of everyone and enjoying a VERY quiet Sunday afternoon. Almost everyone has gone to the beach today and I am here with just one other housemate. It’s strange that the house it so quiet, but it’s kind of nice too. I’ve very much enjoyed living with all of these different people, but I’m starting to realize that I go a little bit nutty without any personal space or quiet time! So this is a nice treat!! They also brought us four more fans this week so now we have one for the downstairs living area and it’s actually quite comfortable during the day – amazing what some moving air does!
“One, Two, Bat” (Bat pronounced “Bot”)
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Emily Tice
What a day! We all woke up this morning and boarded a van that took us on a 3 1/2 hour journey to Hon Long Bay, which not only showed us the beautiful countryside of Vietnam, but let us experience some of Vietnam’s culture in one of their most popular tourist spots. Once we got on a boat that would take us around the bay, our tour guide (Hong –> greatest tour guide ever!) educated us on some more Vietnamese culture and history.
We stopped once to explore on of the famous caves in one of the hundreds of islands within the bay, which is also where we took most of our pictures for this day (hopefully we will be able to add them later). This is where the title of my blog (“One, Two, Bat”) was created. As Hong was trying to teach us all Vietnamese numbers (and what a struggle that was!), we all decided we liked the number three in Vietnamese (bat), so instead of saying “one, two, three” before we would take one of our many pictures, we said “one, two, bat!” Not only did we all fall to pieces in laughter every time we said this, but other tourists found our hilarity and silliness amusing as well.
An early morning start
2010 Mission Trip to Guatemala
Thirty two somewhat blurry eyed healthcare professional and students met at the Nashville International Airport in the wee hours of the morning to begin their week long trip to provide heathcare and training in Guatemala. This years’ multidisciplinary team consists of nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathologist. By 5 am everyone was checked in with their luggage and supplies including orthotics, gloves, masks, casting supplies, (and lots of Belmont T-shirts!). After a layover in Miami, they should arrive in Guatemala this afternoon. Good luck Team!!!!
Let Us Commence the Journey!
2010 Pine Ridge Trip
It is Saturday morning, May 15th, and I’m on Belmont campus amidst the many preparations for Commencement. The music from the carillon is calling all of us to gather, remember, and to celebrate. Our Belmont phrase is From Here to Anywhere and as the 630 names are being read we will all be having our own images of Anywhere.
I will be thinking about Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and the spirit of the Lakota people. What will we discover and learn about ourselves as 18 of us from the Belmont community commence our journey together tomorrow morning? Will we have a wider definition of community? Will we find friends and new directions?
This quote by Maria Montessori speaks to me and may resonate with those who hear the bells of Belmont:
We abandon all and travel the world, as did those in former times who would sow seeds and go their way. This is our destiny: to sow! To sow everywhere, without ceasing never to harvest.
We Have Arrived!
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
Well, we have finally made it to the beautiful Hanoi, Vietnam. It was a long trip, and for a first time international traveler like myself, it was a little scary and overwhelming at times… well pretty much all the time. By the time we were boarding our international flight in LAX, we were all so exhausted and delirious that everything was funny to us. After our 13.5 hour flight to Taiwan, and another 2.5 hour flight to Hanoi, we finally were at our short term destination. During this process though,we completely skipped Friday, which was kind of a joke among us!