I arrived safely in PdP on June 7. I have been travelling since that time....to LaCroix, to Chansolme, and to the island of LaTortue. No one had internet signal---image that.
Tomorrow, June 18, is the celerbration of the 30th anniversary of the Family Myriam in Haiti (their home is my base in PdPaix). Then Tuesday, Fr. Cholet and I will take Rochnick for his appointment with the prosthetics team. They are from Phoenix, Az---small world. They say they will give him his new leg on Wednesday. We will see how things go.
More later.
joan
Tuesday, 06/26/2012 5:12 AM
Last night, Monique, with the prosthetics team, called to say that they could not find good plaster to make the mold for Rochnick`s prosthesis. Someone may be bringing plaster on Friday from Port-au-Prince. So today, we just did work around the house.
My friend Jacky, the deportee, stopped by about 9AM to say hi....and oh, by the way, he was up in a mango tree picking mangos last week, and the branch broke. He fell out of the tree and landed on his head. He said his neck was really hurting. I gave him a note to give to the Phoenix Rising team to see if they could help him.
About 2 PM, I went to see Maradona`s mother. She was complaining that her husband had done a terrible job doing the exercises with her---too much stretching, massaging too hard. She had been ready to hit him with her crutch. But her complaining is actually a step forward, I think. Before yesterday, she had been too lethargic to say much of anything.
Jacky returned just now (5PM) to give me the PhoenixRising response. They suspect a cervical fracture, and he needs an open mouth xray---whatever that is. Who knows if that can be done in PdPaix. And then what to do if his spine really is fractured??
We have an appointment to take Maradona`s mother back for another therapy session tomorrow. I told Jacky to meet me there to see what we can do for him. Rochnick is wandering around the convent courtyard taking pictures with a little digital camera Monique gave him...waiting patiently for the plaster to arrive.
More later.
Joan
Today is Tuesday June 26--Day 7.
It was a long weekend. Rochnick and I played a lot of UNO, watched a few videos, and sat on the balcony looking at the ocean. We knew the plaster had arrived for the mold for Rochnick`s leg. But the prosthetics team did not know how long it would take to make the leg. Plus, they were very tired after a busy week.
Sunday afternoon, Monique called to say that the leg was finished and that we should come on Monday morning.
Monday June 25--we arrived at the PhoenixRising clinic about 8:30--with Rochnick and the mother of Maradona (whose name is Sedonia we found out). Justin gave Sedonia her therapy, while Monique and Yitsak fitted Rochnick with his new leg. Then Justin started therapy with Rochnick---leg exercizes, walking techniques on flat and rooky ground, and finally (and of most interest)a little soccer.
Tuesday June 26--We arrived at the clinic about 8:30 for about 3 hours of exercizes and therapy. Everyone is impressed at the progess Rochnick is making. It is not easy for Rochnick. His right leg muscles are weak from lack of use; the new leg is heavy, and the sleeve is hot; he is having to learn to walk correctly after maybe 3 years of walking on a broken or amputated leg; he is a little disappointed that the results are not immediate; he misses his familly in Bombard, especially his grandmother and his older brother Paulson.
But Rochnick has a lot ccourage, and if all goes well, he may be walking with no assistance in about a week.
More later.
Joan