Life lessons learned

I cannot fix everyone. Which is kind of what I want to do as a physio. But I need to keep remembering that everything is not perfect, and I am no miracle worker.

So today I got taken with my physio to get two of the hospice children new wheelchairs. There is this week long thing happening in Brasov where this non profit organization brings donated wheelchairs to countries where it is hard to get a chair. It sounds like a great idea, and don't get me wrong, it's better than nothing, but it really isn't a great thing for the kids. One of the boys we brought today is 17 and has muscular dystrophy. He needs a chair with a back rest and a head rest and something that will hold him in. But the people working this clinic dont really know the kids and weren't very nice and were pretty condescending to the romanians, like my physio who actually knows these kids. I was offended by this lady, and I was sad that she was american because I don't want to be categorized like that. I know I don't know everything. And I'm not about to act like I know a kid who I've talked to for 30 seconds better than their own physio who sees them every day. Andrei was frustrated and wanted to leave and didn't want the chair they were trying to give him because it was uncomfortable and not good for him. And it was frustrating to me to watch that. This kid is going to have such a short, good quality life. Listen to him and give him a way to move around.

It made me want to do more for these kids. There's a girl we're working with this week who is being put into foster care after her week in hospice because her dad is abusing her. Not that that doesn't happen everywhere else in the world. It just crushes me. These kids are all such wonderful, charming personalities and they deserve the best, yet no one is willing to give them that chance. As much as I love working at hospice, I'm somewhat glad my time there is coming to an end. Most days, the kids rejuvenate me. But then there are days like today where it just makes me sad.

And the lesson learned: I can't do everything and fix everyone.

te iubesc,
Alyssa