Valdora and Sarah started their day with the second module again with our translators Ana and Ioana. Today the children were separated by age in the group rooms because of the rain. We started with the younger children and walked into a vastly different environment including a room full of toys and children ready to socially engage. We soon learned that the difference was a caregiver the children affectionately referred to as "Mama." We spent some time getting to know and asking her about any concerns or difficulties she has working with the children. Mama demonstrated her love for the children and described them as family. She takes many of the children with her to church services and told us she misses them when she is on vacation. Mama was one of the few bright lights we met at the orphanage today as she demonstrate affection and kind discipline to the children. All of the children sought her attention and her approval. Mama was open to our suggestions and eager to learn our techniques to assist her with the best care for her "family."
Ashley started working in the third module with her translator, Ema, who is in her last year of nursing school. Ema had stated that she will be continuing to visit the orphanage when we leave with her classmates and is eager to learn anything we can teach her to assist in improving the lives of these children. Ashley was able to educate Ema in developmental milestones and typical development while working with a variety of children to allow Ema to have valuable hands-on experience. Ashley's impromptu lab provided Ema with an opportunity to learn about normal and abnormal movement patterns, varying degrees of joint mobility, high and low tone, as well as various other impairments associated with the variety of medical conditions of the children living in this module. While Ashley and Ema were working with a four year old girl with Down's syndrome, the caregiver entered the room and told them they were wasting their time. She explained that the little girl would not improve even if they worked with her for two days and that she does not try. Once again we were hit with the reality of the situation that a lack of education is one of the greatest barriers for the development and quality of life for these precious children.
Right before lunch time the entire team worked with children in the third module providing positioning and oral motor stimulation to assist with feeding. It was heartbreaking to watch children who are unable to receive proper nutrients because of their delays and impairments with self-feeding, sucking, and swallowing.
For lunch the team enjoyed a Chinese/Romanian meal complete with chopsticks. Once again the team raved over our"new" favorite dessert which changes with every meal. After lunch Debbie met us to take us to some local stores to pick up supplies. We were able to find a plastic lawn chair with shelf liners and insulated tubing to construct the Romanian version of a shower seat with straps. We also found pacifiers and other teething toys to provide the children with opportunities to develop their oral motor skills. Emma introduced us to a favorite snack from her childhood "Pufuleti" which was similar to a cheese puff made from polenta. We plan to us this snack to introduce the children to pleasure feedings and play with food.
After shopping we returned to the orphanage to finish the day. Cristina returned to the first module to check on braces she provided to a child prior to lunch. The caregiver and the entire group of children were interested in braces and the caregiver demonstrated interest and ability to apply them. Valdora and Sarah returned to the second module to work with the older children. Upon our arrival the children began asking for us to provide their preferred sensory input we started the day before. We were able to work with the children in a large group setting in a more chaotic environment. The children continued seek us out for interactions, sensory input and play. We were able to work more with the children on eye contact, reciprocal play, and social and play interactions with their peers. One of the three caregivers working with these children demonstrated successful efforts to assist with limiting self-stimulating behaviors and increased play and social skills. Three children in particular demonstrated dramatic progress including eye contact and requests for engagement. They had quickly learned that their experiences needed to be shared experiences working with us instead of just receiving the therapy we put upon them. Ashley returned to the third module to provide the children with accepting a pacifier. After extended time and positioning, some of the children demonstrated acceptance of a pacifier, increased interaction with their environment, and play in midline. We know the children in the orphanage with benefit greatly from a speech therapist. Many of them have never developed a suck, swallow, breath pattern and most have oral sensitivities making it difficult for the caregivers to feed them safely. Overall, we were amazed by the eagerness of the children to receive our care. The progress these children have made in social and physical skills in two short days is outstanding, like nothing we have ever seen in our professional careers.
We ended this difficult and rewarding day at our new favorite restaurant. We enjoyed a delicious traditional Greek meal and finished with recommended Greek and Romania desserts.
Our entire team from top left to right: Ligia, Sarah Cristina, Valdora, Ashley, Ioana, Ema, Ana, and Debbie.
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