Mission of Miracles 2010 has been accomplished! For me it was a banner year in that I was privileged to bring two of our Graduate students, Amy Mayer and Mike Perry with me on the psychiatric team. Both Amy and Mike will be graduating in May as Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. Also I was honored that my colleague Joyce Scarpinato MS,, aPNP/FNP @ the College of Nursing, Upstate Medical University joined us on the medical team. Also, I am so pleased that my son Ben joined the mission for a second time. Two clinical situations stand out in my mind. They both took place in Las Bromas. The 1st was a 64yr, old woman who came in with her developmentally impaired 24 yr. old daughter. The young woman could not speak, but smiled and had a giggle that was infectious. The seriousness of her disability was immediately evident, despite her wonderful smile! Mother expressed concern that as she gets older, she is less able to provide for her daughter, and she worries about what will happen to them both. Through her tears this mother\'s anguish and love was palpable to those of us present. Fortunately, through the efforts of our El Salvadoran Social Worker, Pedro, we were able to access the help of the community education worker who has connections to a service center that is funded by the Jerry Lewis Foundation. She expressed confidence that she could get transportation and services for both daughter and mother. That mother's tears turned from those of despair to those of relief! The daughter hugged all of us with an intensity that revealed the understanding of the heart, if not the mind!
The 2nd story was also about a mother who came in complaining that her children, especially her 11 year old son was being not listening to her & his behavior was becoming out of control. She went on to reveal a history of domestic violence. Mother is also diabetic and when she is frustrated with her son, she tells him that if he doesn't behave, she will get sick and die and he will be left alone to care for his younger siblings. Our work was clearly cut out for us! We talked with Mom about reframing her parenting style, giving her several suggestions including referring both Mom & son for follow -up therapy with Ronald, the El Salvadoran team psychologist. Mom explained that she had tried to get her son to see Ronald, but he refused. As luck would have it, the son walked by and we pulled him into the interview. He sat absolutely stiff and defiant. The look of a child who is terrified on the inside, but has a shield of angry armor with which he tries desperately and unsuccessfully to protect himself from overwhelming emotional pain. No matter what any of us tried to do, we could not get him to budge! Out of desperation (and divine intervention!), I went to get my son Ben. I asked him to come and talk with this young boy about how important it is to be able to talk to his mother, or someone else. Ben did come in, knelt in front of the boy, and through the benefit of our wonderful translator Maria, talked to him about the fears of childhood, the unfairness of having a sick mother, and the need to have an adult to trust and help him manage his fear and anger. There appeared a slight crack in the armor! Ben took him out and got him a coke. Mom seemed relieved. The boy stuck to Ben like velcro for most of the afternoon. Toward the end of the day he approached Ben, gave him a hug and then sought out Ronald, the psychologist, to talk. Intervention happens in some strange, creative and wonderful ways! The El Salvadoran mother felt relieved, and her son helped. This clinician mother felt humbled and very proud of her son! I am honored to be a part of this mission and look forward to Mission of Miracles 2011. Peace! Bambi
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