I've sort of
hinted at what I do for a living on this blog. However, I won't waste my time here explaining what occupational therapy (OT) is, I'll
let a professional association do that. Throughout my budding occupational therapy career, for various reasons, I've bounced around doing things like stroke rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, geriatric rehabilitation, and technical aids (i.e. wheelchairs and positioning devices).
In early 2017, I was lucky to be able to put my OT skills to use on a humanitarian trip to Nicaragua to provide wheelchairs for children with various medical conditions.
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| Post-wheelchair assembly |
I went with
Pivot International, an organization that was co-founded by an OT friend of mine, Marie-Kim.
Our short trip was filled with wheelchair deliveries, adjustments, and follow-ups to make sure the children were adequately positioned in their chairs. It is amazing to see how a child who has mainly been in their mother's arms or in bed get a new perspective when sitting in a chair.
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| Roger, post-wheelchair delivery |
Upon our return to Montreal, Marie-Kim and I met to prepare a presentation for McGill OT students. For our get-together, we thought it would be appropriate to recreate the breakfasts we had there. You see,
our lodgings in
Managua were located near an exceptional
Nicaraguan coffee shop. Every morning, orders would be taken and we would have our breakfast on the inner patio before heading out for the day.
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| Our version of DeLaFinca's granola |
Most of us would usually have their granola (mainly tropical fruit with yogurt, granola, and their Nicaraguan honey) and, of course, a coffee. Marie-Kim and I savoured our breakfast in my old plateau apartment, as much as we did back in Managua :)
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| Simone, Pivot's executive director, admiring the views near Estelí |
This year, Pivot's efforts have needed to adjust as a result of the current
Nicaraguan crisis. The crisis has made it so that now, more than ever, the children and the families we have helped in the past need assistance to access basic things like food and soap.
For those interested, Pivot is having a
wine and cheese fundraiser on Saturday, December 1st. For tickets or to make a donation,
click here.
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