Full of tears Friday

Well, that's it. We worked our last day at Padre Martinho's Orphanage here in Lima, Peru. At dinner, we went around and shared our highlight of the day, and one of our favorite things we witnessed from a team member. Katie was praised for her knowledge and dedication to learning and teaching the nannies how to run the feeding pumps. Melissa was recognized for always being willing to be where she was needed to be, to take the photo we wanted her to take, and being flexible. Jenny completed a wheelchair for Alexandra, and that was definitely a favorite moment, as Alexandra smiled and laughed when they finally put her in it. Amy was commended for her unique and well thought out special education activities.

Majesca applauded the entire team for working so hard at their "real jobs," and was admired for her knowledge and application of the Spanish language, and what that did to remove barriers between herself and the kids. We feel confident that 98% of what we came to do was accomplished, so we leave feeling grateful, satisfied, and joyful. We were given sweet gifts from Padre Martinho's, including a home made fruit salad, home made coffee mugs, and home made bracelets by Luicia.

Lisa, our liaison, was moved to tears by the joy we brought to the house, and labeled it as a much needed "reset." God's timing is perfect timing! We leave a bit of our hearts with these children, as always.

(final product- bag hanging by each bed with a profile and any specific toys/materials assigned to that child)

Tough it out Thursday

We are fast approaching the end of the week! We are down to the nitty gritty of getting supplies and suggestions in order so when we depart, the work can continue. Amy spent the entire day writing out everyone's suggestions of activities that could be done with each child, and then getting it translated. Throughout the day, she borrowed different people to grab their suggestions (or photos, in the case of Melissa). Majesca finished up some one on one work, testing visual tracking with Aldo, and engagement with Rodrigo and Augusto. Katie spent most of her day helping with feeding, as well as working with a young man who was reported to be orally seeking.

Melissa also helped with feeding, sorted through and counted the feeding supply donations, and took position photos for our handouts. Jenny was able to get off campus and gain access to sewing machines to make a back rest for a wheelchair. Her afternoon was consumed with refurbishing wheelchairs. Trisha continues to play with babies. She was also able to go through games that might be appropriate for some visitors and volunteers to play with Jeremy, a young man with Autism.

We'll let Sebastian send you off with an "Adios" for today!

Work day Wednesday

Everyone hit their mid-week sleepy point today, right on schedule. We continued where we left off yesterday and really felt accomplished. Jenny did a lot of work with the Hoyer lift, getting directions translated and printed for the staff, and training them all on how to use it.

Katie spent her day using the feeding pumps with the kids and then training the nannies on how to implement a feeding schedule and work the pumps.

She also co-treated with Amy to work with Renzo. They were able to do some academic based experiences, and work on intentional communication with yes/no head switches.

Amy also spent her afternoon with Majesca writing info sheets on each kid with suggestions of experiences and activities that nannies and volunteers can implement. Majesca ran music with more kids today, and was able to spend some time with Esperanza who thoroughly enjoyed playing the xylophone.

Trisha worked on cooperative play this morning with Sebastian and Alexandra. Melissa ran around like a pollo with a head cut off. She got to be an RN for a bit today, as a tooth abscessed in Sebastian's mouth and required a prescription for antibiotics. She walked to the local pharmacy and got the correct medication for him. We might be small, but we are mighty!

Tuesday was a treat!

Happy Tuesday! It rained here in Lima today, and we were able to take a stroll in the drizzle, as we walked to and from the orphanage to save on transportation costs. Today's therapy felt a bit like the weather, slow and steady. Our PT worked on demonstrating and testing the hoyer lift, first with Majesca (our MT) and then a handful of the residents. She also helped set up and adapt Moises' motorized wheelchair in hopes that he will be able to use it in the community.

Katie spent a good deal of her time working on feeding instructions and feeding pumps. She was able to test out one of the pumps with water on Sebastian and verify that it was working (which it was!).

Majesca, after riding the hoyer lift, implemented academic based MT with Sebastian to work on color recognition and a few other concepts. In the afternoon she co-treated with Amy to work on stimulating and engaging Carlos, which was quite successful!

Amy spent her morning at the hardware store picking up the "things to buy" list. Trisha was able to talk with Padre Martinho's PT about some of the equipment and resources available to her that we pulled together. She worked with the 9 month old baby, and helped organize the feeding supplies into bins for Hermano Juan. Melissa helped photograph parts of the hoyer lift for an instruction manual and more positioning for some of the kids. Highlights included the working hoyer lift and feeding pump, & getting more positive responses from the kids, like this sweet face I'll leave you with for the evening.

Marvelous Monday

Today was such a productive day for our team of six at Padre Martinhos- our liaison said we were working at "warp speed" today. Katie and Amy began their day by going over all of the donations we brought with Hermano Juan- the director of the orphanage.

Katie then worked with two boys on their oral motor skills, observed their feedings, and calculated how much food each child eating via a feeding pump should be receiving. Jenny, the physical therapist, worked on positioning for a young man named Becker, trying to make him more comfortable, and finding a second position he could be in besides lying in his bed.

She worked on wheelchairs and fitted AFO's for some other residents. Melissa helped photograph positions so we can leave visual reminders for the nannies, helped calculate feeding amounts, and photographed everyone else's work. Amy spent the morning working with Moises to teach him how to identify and write the letters of the Spanish alphabet.

The afternoon was spent going through the toys and therapeutic equipment that already exists at Padre Martinhos with Trisha. The ladies brainstormed how to present these resources to volunteers that come in to the home and desire to do something interactive and beneficial for the children. Trisha's morning included working with the two babies and joining Majesca for music time. Majesca did a small, three person music group to start the day, then worked with individuals for the rest of our time at Padre Martinhos. Some team highlights included how receptive and excited the Peruvian Physical Therapist was to us, our ideas, and our equipment, getting some awesome smiles and giggles, and learning how to fix a hydraulic wheelchair!

What a wonderful weekend!

Hello BRIGHT Supporters! We are wrapping up our weekend here in Lima, and wanted to take a few moments to let you know what we've been up to down here in the southern hemisphere. Our plane landed safely around 6am yesterday (Saturday), and after a leisurely breakfast, we went straight to Padre Martinhos. The therapists were able to sort their donations, meet the children, and begin some work! Majesca did some one-on-one music therapy with a few of the boys, while Trisha got to know the little ones. Jenny, our physical therapist, put together a hoyer lift, put together a child's stander, AND got everyone measured for AFO's (What a rockstar!). Melissa observed how the feedings were implemented, calculated the children's weights and heights to plan a feeding regimen (and took the amazing pictures below). Amy began working with a little boy named Sebastian on basic academic concepts, like letter identification and object labeling. Sunday is a day of rest for the children at Padre Martinhos, and since they don't allow visitors, we were able to experience Lima. After shopping at the local market, we had lunch oceanside. We then embarked on a three hour bus tour of Lima, Peru. We saw different parts of the city, and was able to tour the cathedral of San Francisco (and their catacombs).

We saw embassies, the presidential palace, parks, and more.

Dinner was on the go, as we had to get to a 7:30 church service. The service resembled a denominational "mega church" with about 3000 people, a very loud (and awesome) worship band, and a message (translated into ear buds for us English-speakers). We are now back at the hotel, ready to rest up for a week of therapy! Please check back in tomorrow to see what we were able to accomplish! *Good night*