Amy OT

"It is better to give than to receive."  I truly believe that. I feel so giddy packing toys for Tesoros de Dios , the special needs school in Nicaragua. Their Amazon wish list  is surprisingly simple. Even the most basic items are cherished.  Can you picture the faces of the children? The impact? When they see much of the wish list come to life? I'll let you in on the joy!   Picture an 8-year-old with spaghetti muscles. He has poor muscle control and is working hard in horse therapy to strengthen his core. These balls hoop will make his therapy more fun and effective! Now we're inside the therapy room for children functioning at a very low level. The light is on but no one is home. Or they are trapped in their body and very much awake. Both are true in this room. A 12-year-old lays on a mat, able to sit up only when fully supported in the therapist's lap. They stack these rings together, hand-over-hand, naming colors, and stretching muscles.  ...

I have pledged to volunteer in Nicaragua for 6 months at a special needs school. Why? When? Is it safe? Do you even speak Spanish??  Why Central America? I got my first taste of Central America back in 2011 and loved it. I visited Honduras for a short medical mission trip. I've returned - to Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica - and can't get enough. The culture. The food. The language. The simplicity of life there. The focus on family and relationships rather than wealth and getting ahead. People with less possessing more joy and contentment. I want what they have.   Why Nicaragua? Short answer: There's an opportunity there for my faith and career to intertwine! I was first introduced to the special needs school (Tesoros de Dios) back in Jan 2015. I had the privilege of visiting for a week with a professor and 3 other students. I witnessed the amazing work being done to provide for the students. Heard the stories of hope and progress mixed with others...

So history repeats itself - when life gets busy, I neglect the blog... let me fill you in... I completed my second 12 week fieldwork, the one in mental health. I cried (go figure). I will treasure the card the clients signed - their short goodbye sentiments reflected their personalities perfectly. Even though the 12 weeks stretched me beyond my breaking point, the challenges made for a rich experience. I miss the sweet and feisty clients alike. I actually miss the feisty clients the most - can you relate? The ones I was losing sleep over and weathering storms with were the ones I built strong bonds with... ironic.. I often wonder how they're doing. They left their mark on me for sure..  I studied for my boards exam. I poured my heart into learning, memorizing, connecting knowledge to experiences.. I took 2.5 hour practice tests, read rationales for each answer.. I watched YouTube videos with anatomy animations. Videos on the lived experience with cerebral palsy...