An Inspirational person, Jason Reeves

Do yourself a favor and follow this lovely gentleman on tumblr. He is an inspiring and positive individual who is absolutely love sick! He is on my blog list, Letters from the lovesick.

We should all be more like this little girl!

If we all could just remind ourselves of just how awesome each one of us is, on a daily basis, think of how much happiness would exist in the world! It's easy to allow others to make us feel small, unimportant, and unsure of ourselves. This little girl quickly reminded me to remember to love myself always!

January 12, 2010

The earthquake in Haiti was a devastating blow to a tiny nation already facing severe hardships. The moment it happened, I didn't think much of the situation until the news reports started to flood in of complete and utter destruction and devastation. The next day, I literally cried as I heard how many people were killed, injured, or trapped by the rubble. Personal stories of loved ones flooded every news station and pleas for help echoed into our homes. I felt so compelled to do more than text a donation to the American Red Cross, I had to make my way to Haiti to help.

The next few weeks proved almost impossible to find a way into the country. All of the relief organizations I had contacted had already mobilized people on the ground in Haiti or they simply felt that they did not need nurses. Then a month later, good news came that I was going to be able to go. I packed, prepared, and got approval from my boss and then the trip organization seemed to unravel and it fell apart. I was sad but determined. I was able to get in contact with an organization in NYC called NYC medics. I learned that they were some of the first healthcare providers on the ground in remote areas of Pakistan for the 2006 earthquake and they were highly organized and on the ground in Haiti. Lucky me I was given the opportunity to go for 2 weeks, so I deployed to Haiti, finally, 2 1/2 months after the deadly quake.

Nothing can quite prepare you for what you see in Haiti. I had been on humanitarian trips to mexico several times in high school and college and I thought I had seen poverty, well I had not! Crossing into Haiti my first sights were trash and people bathing in stagnated water that had a close resemblance to antifreeze. Emaciated Farm animals were everywhere, wandering down the side of the road. Pulling into the Love a child camp in Fond Parisien, my first sights were of children and adults making their way through the gravel and dirt on crutches and in wheelchairs. Amputees were everywhere and I had a small realization of just where I was, welcome to Haiti.

I spent about 10 days under the hot 95 degree sun in Haiti, trying to make sense of my purpose and what my role was in helping the people that had come to the hospital set up at the Love a child orphanage compound. There was organized chaos but lack of solid structure and role function for each individual healthcare volunteer. The role functions would sometimes change daily or at the last minute, depending on what was happening. Some people left to run a makeshift clinic at the refugee camp, some took children and women into Port au Prince for and HIV clinic, while some tended to patients assigned to them with daily wound care. I found that my focused clinical experience in Pediatric oncology did not serve me well in this situation. I found my most basic nursing skills under the pressures of the heat, exhaustion, and the emotions of sadness and frustration. Something as basic as IV insertion, became a little more complex in Haiti. Lack of the same supplies I am used to having, having to swing at flies to stay away from a wound, and the wind blowing the dirt everywhere, or the flooding in the triage areas, all became challenges I was not adversed to overcoming.

I did have a few really good days where I felt very positive about what I was doing. I eventually had to realize that if my nursing skills were lacking and or someone else was better at something it was best to step aside from that situation. I found that my love for people and children did become my biggest asset. I was able to comfort a child in triage for a couple of days and tend to her with candy, and coloring books. I did get a lot of opportunities to play with some of the kids and organize some coloring sessions. And I was able to do a lot of nursing care to people with wound care and emotional TLC. I heard from my patients, many personal accounts of loss and suffering. One of the patients I took care of was a grad student and in class at the time of the quake. She survived 4 days of being trapped in the rubble while laying next to classmates who were not fortunate to survive. She got out with injury that will effect her for the rest of her life and possibly limit any income opportunities she might of had. Most people would become depressed, but not Leoni, she was determined to get back to her full life again. She had faith, like many of the Haitians that I met. Faith that soon enough, Haiti will revive and the people will go on.

I can't say that I did anything extraordinary in going to Haiti or while I was there. What I have learned though is that I did make an impact somehow someway I affected someone positively. Even if I was able to bring a smile to someone for a moment, I had a purpose. It took me quite some time to realize this, which is why I haven't really spoke to many people about my experience. It takes a while to process an experience such as this.

Please feel free to donate to nycmedics.org so that they can continue their mission in helping others. The small organizations can make a big impact!

Responsiblity and Us

My husband and I watched Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on television last night. It was an eye opener to say the least. It wasn't so much of an eye opener into the obesity rates, convenience of heating ready made food, and the overall health of our nation, as much as an eye opener into the lack of motivation we adults have into promoting responsibility of sustaining a healthy population of humans on this earth. The lack of concern over responsibility to care for oneself and lack of motivation is shocking! The lunch ladies at the local appalachian school seemed annoyed that he wanted to have them actually cook food rather than reheating it, even though one lady was completely upset when he called her a lunch lady and she scoffed "I'm a cook". I think Jamie will prove he can set up a food menu within the school districts' budget and constraints but it is lack of knowledge and motivation, on the part of the adults in charge, that will continue to be the downfall for the school kids he seeks to help!

There are many issues that contribute to unhealthy eating habits, especially amongst appalachian people. Many people in the area are illiterate, or have not completed enough education to read past an elementary level. Access to health promotion and care is limited. There is also cost associated with eating healthy that many in that area simply cannot afford. Fresh food and vegetables are more costly than food in the frozen section. Many of those people are living off of limited income or resources and have to find ways to stretch a dollar. But all that said, I still feel that motivation is a key factor to change and promoting health that will sustain us as people on this earth. It doesn't cost a thing to take a walk and go play in the park for 20 minutes a day. With a little creativity, there can be some positive change to eating habits on a limited budget. We need to just find the motivation to get off of our bottoms and jump into improving our health.

Jamie has a wonderful opportunity to save lives and educate people. However, he needs to do so with an awareness of the factors that contribute to obesity. You cannot fix something unless you find the root analysis cause to the problem. You can continue to patch up the ceiling that appears to have a leak, but until you find the leak and patch the hole, the problem will continue.

Great article with links for more information

http://longevity.about.com/od/longevitystatsandnumbers/a/le_declines.htm

From the CDC, you can download and read the executive summary on health statistics in the US. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm

Unplugging and reconnecting

I have to admit that between my husband and myself, precious hours of our lives are spent surfing the web, watching you-tube videos, and texting/face booking/tweeting. We easily get lost in technology and disconnect from one another, even though we may be sitting on the same couch or in the same room. I phones have changed our lives, but I have to wonder, if for the better.

Growing up I was a social butterfly, my husband more of a recluse. It surprises me that I am spending more time these days connecting with friends via text/email or aimlessly surfing the Internet. Occasionally I will get a phone call from a friend and you know what, I miss that. I miss being able to connect with our voices or face to face with others. We are all so busy these days that it is a miracle we can stay in touch so texting and email has made life convenient.

I worry though, about the upcoming generations in the world. The 30 plus crowd grew up without cell phones, computers in our houses, and social networking sites. We learned how to connect with people and build friendships. We also learned that reading, crafting, taking the bike for a ride, walking on the beach, going for a hike, and grabbing a cup of coffee with one another were enjoyable activities. The next generation is learning to spend their free time on the Internet or texting rather than having face to face interactions with others. This social disconnect that is being created within modern society may have detrimental effects. Science has proven that being social may keep Alzheimer's and dementia away. It has also proven that not being social and engaging in physical activities has increased incidence of obesity.

I challenge everyone reading this, myself, my husband, and my step daughter to put the phone away one day a week and turn off the computer. Reconnect with each other and build relationships, get to know your neighbor, help one another out, get healthy, and find new hobbies. Afterall, you only have this one life on earth and do you want to look back at it on your deathbed and realize all the things you could have done!

Trip to the east end

My Husband and I took a trip to the east end of long island and I grabbed my camera, we found love lane and walked around, enjoy some shots from the day!

Lyrics that speak to my heart

Run away from money
Quit your job and climb a tree
One with hearts instead of leaves
Build a sandcastle big enough for us to sleep
Paint it golden with the sunrise

Cause we are
Like a wingless bird
Crashing down
To the helpless earth
And if somethin's gonna break it
See it all around you
Feel it in your body
You'll be hiding in the shadows
Where love is still alive
'Til all of it is burning

Through a field we're walkin
Empty as the open sky
We escape from all the troubles
Found a waterfall and
Took a dive to cool our skin
Finally we found this feelin'

Run away from money
Quit your job and climb a tree
One with hearts instead of leaves

by Jason Reeves and Colbie Caillat