As I said, I don't look like someone with a broken leg, but one more month of no walking.
visit www.adopt-a-grandparent.org
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Thursday, March 17, 2005
And now for something completely different...
I've been away from this log, and infact everything since my leg broke on March 5, 2005. I'm now in enforced rest (what else can I do?) for the next few months, and so will have to rely on whatever photos and news is sent to me. There are some pictures of me circulating around, but as I have no cast, they are unremarkable.
I have been spending the last 12 days thinking about the difference in care that I'm getting, and what is available for the Abuelitos. Without going into details, the care is as different as you can imagine. I only had to wait for 28 hours for my bone to be set and a pin inserted. I know of abueltitos with breaks who have had to wait 5-6 days, and some who were just sent home. I recall, specifically, meeting Barbara for the first time, in her home, on the very first home visit. She had her foot in a sling from the ceiling, and I thought then that she would never walk on that broken foot again. It's a tribute to the strength of her genetic makup that Barbara not only walks, but dances on that foot, 6 years later, with no thanks to the local hospital who just sent her home with no treatment.
Her time at home was a bit different as well. Her family (a son and Daughter-in-law) took turns taking care of her, their children and, oh yes, trying to find and do work. I've been lucky enough to be able to hire a nurse, who is also my neighbor, so she gets me set up, then goes and fixes her daughter lunch after school, comes back to help me at night, and then has time the next morning for her daughter before coming over to me. I get almost 24 hour care, she gets a job, and gets time with her daughter. Everyone wins.
But most of the abueltios would be unable to pay a nurse. Barbara was one of the lucky ones whose children looked after her, others have no children or ar estranged from those they have, or even have children who have abused and deserted them.
Los Martinctios provides for minimal care with a fill time nurse, and voluntary doctors, but cannot provide the personal care that many of the seniors need.
I have been spending the last 12 days thinking about the difference in care that I'm getting, and what is available for the Abuelitos. Without going into details, the care is as different as you can imagine. I only had to wait for 28 hours for my bone to be set and a pin inserted. I know of abueltitos with breaks who have had to wait 5-6 days, and some who were just sent home. I recall, specifically, meeting Barbara for the first time, in her home, on the very first home visit. She had her foot in a sling from the ceiling, and I thought then that she would never walk on that broken foot again. It's a tribute to the strength of her genetic makup that Barbara not only walks, but dances on that foot, 6 years later, with no thanks to the local hospital who just sent her home with no treatment.
Her time at home was a bit different as well. Her family (a son and Daughter-in-law) took turns taking care of her, their children and, oh yes, trying to find and do work. I've been lucky enough to be able to hire a nurse, who is also my neighbor, so she gets me set up, then goes and fixes her daughter lunch after school, comes back to help me at night, and then has time the next morning for her daughter before coming over to me. I get almost 24 hour care, she gets a job, and gets time with her daughter. Everyone wins.
But most of the abueltios would be unable to pay a nurse. Barbara was one of the lucky ones whose children looked after her, others have no children or ar estranged from those they have, or even have children who have abused and deserted them.
Los Martinctios provides for minimal care with a fill time nurse, and voluntary doctors, but cannot provide the personal care that many of the seniors need.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Better Vision for Better Health
This past week, a group of volunteer optical technicians, including an optometrist, came to Oscar Romero to give vision tests and write prescriptions for glasses. Below you will see how they and the abuelitos reacted. Unfortunately, only those who already wear glasses or are noticibly failing could be tested. If they can find, beg, borrow or steal S/.20 (twenty nuevo soles) they will be able to get new glasses from the prescriptions.
Of course, the problem is...Where do they each find S/.20? That's the equivalent of $6.20
Please consider clicking on the Donate Now button on the site, and giving $10.00 to cover the electronic payment fee and the cost of a new pair of glasses! If you wish to donate more, and have the donation used specifically for glasses, please indicate that when you donate.
Of course, the problem is...Where do they each find S/.20? That's the equivalent of $6.20
Please consider clicking on the Donate Now button on the site, and giving $10.00 to cover the electronic payment fee and the cost of a new pair of glasses! If you wish to donate more, and have the donation used specifically for glasses, please indicate that when you donate.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
The completion (?) of the Mural.
Lydia adds her name to the wall, imortalzing her painting skills.
visit www.adopt-a-grandparent.org
Monday, February 14, 2005
Elaine Angstman presents a "big" check
Elaine Angstman, a director of Adopt a Grandparent (Adopta Un Abueltios), Inc. gives Tonny a check for $1000.00 dollars. Elaine has actually raised a total of $1500.00 since last March when she was last here. A tireless worker for Adopt a Grandparent, Elaine is also involved with an adopted child in Bolivia, her church, her garden, her art and her family, not necessarily in that order.
visit www.adopt-a-grandparent.org
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Shopping at Fey y Alegria for donated clothes.
While the event shown directly below is a shopping event not to be surpassed, a little farther below you will see the completed Rainbow of Lydia's and Neil's (with Sandro). You will also see a picture of Lilmar Lopez and Tonny. There are many ways to volunteer, and Neil and Lydia showed their artistic side, as well as serving meals to the Abueltios, washing dishes, helping in Bingo and a myriad of other activites; Lilimar began a marketing campaign to businesses in Villa, put together a meeting, and a presentation for that meeting. You can also see below a picture of the entire Martincitos' staff.
Directly below, you can see pictures of yesterday's shopping spree at the school Fe y Alegria (Faith and Joy)#17. Sister Cecilia and her volunteers had table upon table of clothing for both men and women, and everyone was given a shopping bag. The whole scene reminded me of Filene's basement (for those of you not from New England, "the basement" is where all of the department store Filene's puts their marked down clothing). since there are so many good deals there, they just lay the merchandise out, and people can scramble for the best deals. Fe y Alegria put together an even better "filene's basement", since all of the clothing was donated.
The donated clothers came from Peruvians. Before you think about shipping old clothes here, please remember that there are duties and taxes at the SerPost post office. Often these "impuestos" are more than the value of the goods inside. A money donation can do two things: 1. allow Adopt a Grandparent to purchase the goods here, helping the Peruvan economy, and 2. allow us to buy that which is most needed at the time.
Please look at the stories of some of our grandparent in "Meet our Grandparents" section; they may need medicine, or a new roof, or shoes. The needs differ over time, and there is always an emergency to deal with.
Currently, the abuelitos who need prescription glasses, will be able to have eye tests next week, and for S/.20.00 (twenty soles, approximately $6.25) they can buy a new pair of glasses.Unfortunately some of the grandparents don't have the twenty soles for the glasses.... Here's where you money donations come in.
Please click on the "Donate Now" button on almost every page, and give us the money for three pairs of glasses ($20.00).
Directly below, you can see pictures of yesterday's shopping spree at the school Fe y Alegria (Faith and Joy)#17. Sister Cecilia and her volunteers had table upon table of clothing for both men and women, and everyone was given a shopping bag. The whole scene reminded me of Filene's basement (for those of you not from New England, "the basement" is where all of the department store Filene's puts their marked down clothing). since there are so many good deals there, they just lay the merchandise out, and people can scramble for the best deals. Fe y Alegria put together an even better "filene's basement", since all of the clothing was donated.
The donated clothers came from Peruvians. Before you think about shipping old clothes here, please remember that there are duties and taxes at the SerPost post office. Often these "impuestos" are more than the value of the goods inside. A money donation can do two things: 1. allow Adopt a Grandparent to purchase the goods here, helping the Peruvan economy, and 2. allow us to buy that which is most needed at the time.
Please look at the stories of some of our grandparent in "Meet our Grandparents" section; they may need medicine, or a new roof, or shoes. The needs differ over time, and there is always an emergency to deal with.
Currently, the abuelitos who need prescription glasses, will be able to have eye tests next week, and for S/.20.00 (twenty soles, approximately $6.25) they can buy a new pair of glasses.Unfortunately some of the grandparents don't have the twenty soles for the glasses.... Here's where you money donations come in.
Please click on the "Donate Now" button on almost every page, and give us the money for three pairs of glasses ($20.00).
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