We had our first early day to finish today, we were done at 1:30, but don't you know it, our transport didn't arrive till 3 pm, and we were back at our hotel at around 4 pm. It's Bangladesh time here, nothing really happens when you expect it to. We are a flexible bunch, just take it one day at a time.
Today, the participants in the workshop brought up 2 patients for us to observe how they transfer the patients. Most patients are quadriplegic or paraplegic, so their needs are pretty specific. No facility has a mechanical lift, so all care has involved lifting the patients. They do a good job, bending their knees for movement, they approach movement as a team, usually 2 or more people doing the moves. We left 2 of our transfer boards (Made by Don G in Carpentry) with this facility, and 2 sliders. They really appreciated it.
They have a wheelchair basketball team, they will soon be part of an international competition when CRP hosts a South Asian Conference for Rehab Specialty Hospitals. Each country will bring a team to compete, they were just practicing for the competition.
This patient is quadriplegic, he was working in Oman, and was involved in a traffic accident. He initially had surgery in Oman, stayed for 5 months, then was transferred to Bangladesh, where he has been for 3 months. Eventually he will go home to his family. No Mechanical lifts available, so hard. Ralph and I spoke to him in Arabic, and he had such a big smile when we could communicate with him.
This 15 year old boy fell from a Mango tree, he is paralyzed in his legs,
He can transfer from bed to chair on his own. He is using a sturdy wheelchair made originally by the CRP voc school. It uses Rickshaw tires, so that they can be easily repaired when needed. It is a fixed size and fixed sides wheelchair, because the sidewalks are so uneven, that if a wheelchair isn't sturdy it wouldn't last very long.
We learned so much today about perseverance, about working with the limits in your environment and about caring for your own countryman. We taught them some skills that will be useful, had them use glo-germs to wash their hands in a better way, and again looking at their environment.
We saw so much at the hospital facility today, some sad stories of falls and paralysis, but in this story is also hope and slow progress. Tomorrow is our first day of rest (we plan to shop) and then we are invited to a Nepali friends home for supper and a visit. Every day is so full, which is wonderful for sure.
Bev and Danielle will share some more info for you about our experience in the last few days......
Debbi
