Saying goodbye to Meloonda and her family

Port-au-Prince has dried out quicky, and the dust and unending traffic is back. When we arrived, everything was wet.... the floors of houses were wet, the tent cities were a mud pit, and the drainage ditches were overflowing. The Bregard's tent had blown away in the hurricane and their hut was leaking inside onto their beds. The sun and heat of yesterday were welcomed by everyone.

We returned to work with Meloonda -- this time teaching her mother how to do the exercises to stretch her muscles, how to "ring-sit" in order for Meloonda to learn to hold herself up while playing, how to use the "stander" so that Meloonda is not always in a sitting position, and how to transfer the seat from the indoor wheelchair base to the all-terrain wheelchair base. Stephanie and Lauren also worked with her mother about safe feeding and drinking techniques and how to encourage swallowing -- in order to prevent aspiration.

The good-byes were emotional all around.... it is good to see Meloonda back with her family, but all of us at Shenandoah and in Winchester that have worked with her and loved on her are going to carry her in our hearts for a long time.

Meloonda's therapy at SU concludes. The Bregards, accompanied by a team from SU, return to Haiti.

Physical Therapists, Stephanie & Lauren, write:

All the rehab team did an impressively comprehensive job working with Meloonda directly as well as preparing the educational materials and equipment for this adventure. Yesterday at Meloonda's house here in Haiti, we got all the equipment assembled while Meloonda and her mother got reacquainted. It was also very heartwarming to see how Meloonda's sister responded to Meloonda's return. Very sweet.

Those here in Haiti, who knew Meloonda prior to her rehab trip to the states immediately remarked on the improvements in her head control, her ability to open her mouth for feeding and ability to reach.

Today Lauren and I have laid out a plan for education and instruction focusing on safe swallowing (positioning to minimize risk of aspiration), the importance of changing position (prone, out of chair, standing etc) and review of use of the equipment. We will also be making some field adaptions to the seating system.

The hurricane blew away their former tent, but the family acquired two days ago a new (and better) tent and tarp. Unfortunately, most of Mr. Bregard's books were water damaged by the storm.

Good for all here that the rains appear to have stopped today -- this country sure needs a break.