“Ok Briz (that’s how most people in Zambia pronounced my name since…the BL sound was very difficult for them to understand) it’s your turn now“, said one of the lead physical therapists confidently signaling me to come talk and work with the 2 week old patient that just came in with her mother. “Here’s your physical therapist for today!”
It was the last day of our group volunteering at the hospital in the physical therapy (PT) ward in Livingstone, Zambia. Without hesitation, I happily changed my position to face this beautiful 2 week old baby girl with a “dislocated shoulder”. She was too big, the doctors said. So becasue of her size, upon delivering her, they dislocated her shoulder when pulling her out. So her left arm was totally limp. However, upon arriving in the PT unit, the diagnosis had simply changed to a minor form of cerebral pulsy (I forgot the actual medical term that they used, but that’s how it was explained to me) where the brain failed to send a message to her muslces in her arm so she could move it. Hence the real reason as to why her left arm was limp.
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 0800-1200 hours (military time is the common way of telling time in the countries we’ve been so far) was an open clinic for children with EP/CP or any other type of rehabilitation needed for physical and occupational therapy and for adults that have had strokes. We didn’t get to volunteer as long as we would have liked to due to timing and I’m assuming miscommunication issues, but I’m extrememly grateful for the few days that we did get to be there becasue I would have never gotten a chance to prayerfuly consider this new passion in my life! I layed out the babie’s swaddling balnket on what looked like a yoga block and placed that baby her back. I then began playing with her and practiced doing the several exercises that the PTs showed me in previous visits. While doing that I sang some songs and prayed for her to be healed! This is just one out of the several patients that we meet in the clinic that I felt super comfortable with just cheering them on, encourging them and their parents/caregivers, and asking the Lord to heal them. 3 weeks later I still try to remember their names so that I can continue to pray for their recovery.
I can still vividly remember their faces, smiles and cries as we exercised their tense or loosened muslces. Even after only the first day of volunteering in that unit I considered pursuing physical therapy as soon as I get back from the race. If y’all know me at all, anything involving the medical field has never caught my eye. Seeing this profession from a mission standpoint was the gamechanger for me.
As Christians we are called to be and make disciples of Christ. What did Jesus Christ do? He performed miracles-he healed the sick, walked on water, calmed storms, brought the dead to life, casted out deamons, multiplied fish and bread and rose from the dead himself! He performed these miracles so that people would believe that the kingdom of God is at hand. So not only did he do that but before he ascended back into heaven he told his apostles that his followers would be able to do the same things and even more in His name for the same purpose! Jesus healed the lame! And after they were healed they couldn’t help but tell everybody they knew about this man name Jesus who did more than just healed them physically but, eternally as well in speaking to their souls! All of the PTs at this hospital were Christians and when asking them why they chose this profession they said that becasue it consisted of long hours, days weeks and someties even months of recovery it was a chance for them to consistently speak the truth and light of the gosple with their patients!
So yes after talking to and hearing from the Lord, seeking counsel, being encouraged and researching this profession and how long it would take for me to do this (basically I’d be starting from scratch in going back to school for this field) I am confident that the Lord is giving me his blessing in pursuing this career for His glory in bringing his kingdom here on earth! Below are a couple of pictures of the little room that we worked in for the children’s clinic.
Part of the floor was covered in gym mats covered with blankets. We would all take off our shoes and sit on these mats where we would play/talk/exercise with the patients. There were also several toys to help build muscle memory and equipment used to help straighten cp patients postures/alignment. I will forever remember this room and the moment where I heard that it was “your turn now“.
