Like the 12 year old boy today with an open wound on his head; a concrete brick had fallen on him in the earthquake and he was hit in the back of the head. Four months later and a stranger who recognized him at an orphanage brought him into our clinic. This boy lost his parents and had no one to care for him other than a distant stranger. Captain Barry happenned to be at the bedside and and we looked at each other. In that moment we both saw with so much clarity why we are here, and I knew why I continue to return. There are those that need health care and those that need so much more. They need love and hope and continued support, and I am trying my best to provide all three.
Later on a woman came to me complaining of common symptoms: cold, acid reflux, joint and back pain, headache. I adressed all these issues the usual way, and then she pulled out another one: insomnia.
Since when?
Since the earthquake.
Did you lose family?
Yes; two children.
Luckily for us, we have Robert, a psychologist, working at the moment, so I referred her to him. Half an hour later, I came back to check on her and he told me the rest of her story, with Dimitri translating.
This woman runs an orphanage of 25 children, and as luck would have it, it collapsed in the event. Now she sleeps on the streets with these 23 children (two died) and has nowhere to go. She can't sleep at night for the stress of finding food and shelter, and feels bad for not being able to sleep because it makes it harder for her to look after them. And there you have it. The psychologist looked at me and said "f*@k". Because in this world, in this reality, how do you help this woman? There is no "refer to social work", no meals on wheels, no welfare cheque she can receive. All you can do is listen. And raise awareness. And hope that by listening, you bless her with hope and some vague sense of relief that we care. These photos come from her private collection, and I share them with you in hope and solidarity.
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