The Final Day

This week we have worked with a small crew since Monday. Kate Barrett and five St. Kate’s OT students worked in the clinic with Yancana Huasy staff Monday morning, with Sammie, Mary Beth and I joining them straight from the airport right after lunch. Tuesday was our second Hellen Keller day and was REALLY long – we left Yancana at 9 pm. Had we been fully staffed it would have been much shorter and we were exhausted but there were many grateful parents and kids who looked good in their chairs – despite their own exhaustion. These families lived in the Pachacutec district and came far for the opportunity to have their children receive custom fit wheelchairs.

Today was our final day and we worked only until lunch. For many people the next four days of Semana Santa (Holy Week)are holidays. We did what we could, and Yancana Huasy staff will do a great job of fitting the remaining wheelchairs in the coming weeks. After lunch we packed our things, both the Eleanore’s Project suitcases that are stored at Yancana from year to year and the ones we are taking home. Goodbyes followed…always hard. Strong bonds are formed as we work together. For me personally, leaving Yancana is as much a wrench as the joy I feel when I arrive each year. It is a special place with special people and has won my heart. Here are some scenes:

Peaceful and empty to start the day, this is the sacred space of Our Lord of Hope Parish in Canto Grande. Yancana Huasy is directly connected and the parish allows us to use this space for our clinics each year.

Augusto, Edward and Marlon, Yancana PTs in the hallway leading to the medical clinic.

The last of our team poses with Chris Ventura, OT at Yancana Huasy.

Mary Beth, Sammie and me in the empty clinic space at the end of our work today.

A more typical view as things get busy.