Back from the DR!

Mama Specs and I just got back from the Dominican Republic a few days ago, and I think I am finally ready to process it all and write about it. First off, I'd like to say what a tremendous job my mom did in organizing and leading this trip. I am so proud of her! What started off as an idea for a collaboration between the Foundation for Peace and The College of Saint Elizabeth exploded into a huge trip also involving nurses from UMDNJ and Sigma Theta Tau. We traveled down to the DR 64 strong and ready to help those in need. I can easily say Emily was the inspiration and helped this happen.


One day we traveled to several Batays, or villages created to farm sugar cane. These communities are very rural and poor, and have both Dominicans and Haitians living together. Here we participated in house-to-house visits for health care, which provided a really interesting insight into the lives and personalities of the people who live in this area. I think many people were surprised at how, although many families have very little, they take great pride in the things they do possess, and keep their houses clean and welcoming. People were very appreciative of the care and medicines we gave, and always wanted to make us feel welcome. Very inspiring. One of the main goals of our trip was to encourage the Dominicans to be responsible for their health records, giving out sheets to encourage record-keeping. Also in these batay areas, we taught good hygiene techniques. We gave children coloring books with pictures of the characters practicing good hygiene such as washing hands after working with livestock and wearing shoes (a major problem!)

The next two days were spent at large organized health clinics. Since our group was so large, we were able to set up two clinics simultaneously each day. It was estimated that we treated over 3,000 people during our stay in the DR!!! We started record keeping for all these families (heights, weights, blood pressure, blood sugar) as well as treated any illnesses they may have (anything from headaches to parasites to infections).
























Luckily, I was in the clinic that traveled to Brisas de los Palmares, the church community in Santo Domingo where Emily did most of her work with. Being with a different group this year, I was unsure if the Dominican kids would recognize me from last year and being Emily's sister. Well I did not have to worry about this AT ALL! Amazingly, kids ran up to me right away exclaiming that Emily's sister was back!! This was just incredible - they really remember and appreciate everything. The adults in this church also remembered Emily - one man especially I will never forget. He came right up to me and handed me a very small picture of a young girl. I was surprised as pictures were rare commodities in the DR. He insisted I take the picture and told me that it was of his daughter, who was friends with Emily. She had recently passed away, he explained, and now was with Emily and they both were "just sleeping", looking down on us, and will be with us again one day. It was very touching, and I just couldn't believe he wanted me to take such a valuable possession such as a picture of his daughter. Emily's friends (cousins of Ariela) also gave me a pretty bracelet, which I cherish, and I also gave them each a bracelet as well. They told me they still have and value bracelets which Emily gave to them last time she traveled there.

And if any of you are still wondering if Emily's presence was with us last week - this just puts the icing on the cake. One day, on a long bus ride home, I was napping and woke up to a strange and familiar sound - "HOT STUFF" playing on the Dominican Radio!! I thought i must still be sleeping and sat straight up in disbelief. The hair on my arms stood up! I realized this was really happening and just sat, perplexed, looking out the window to the Dominican neighborhoods, with the sounds of "hot stuff" in my ear. Very surreal!!




Being in the Dominican always makes me feel closer to Emily. It feels good to continue her legacy there and to keep her dreams and motivations alive. Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and support, and a big hug to Mama Specs and my aunt Mary Beth for making it happen!

Love,
Kate

PS - for more pics, visit our group room at snapfish (http://drtrip2007.snapfish.com/snapfish)