Tesoros De Dios

For the past 6 months or so, I worked in the emergency department at Fairfax Hospital.  The job was invaluable (shoutout to the scribes! :) as it provided an intimate experience with healthcare in terms of both medicine and the healthcare system.  This past week, I was rocked to the core as I experienced healthcare in Nicaragua for the first time.

Manna hosted a group of occupational therapy students who traveled to volunteer in a school for special needs children called Tesoros De Dios.  The occupational therapy students partnered with 2 doctors, a nurse practitioner, speech therapist, physical therapist, and psychologist from the States who diagnosed, evaluated, and recommended treatment for the children.  

I had an amazing opportunity to observe the healthcare providers evaluate children.  One child new to the program had an incredibly complicated condition resulting from a glucocorticosteroid deficiency which involved several body systems.  He was deaf, blind in the left eye, hypoglycemic, had low muscle tone - just to name a few.  At the ER in the US, with a couple clicks of the mouse, we were able to access years and years worth of medical records w/in seconds.  Here in Nicaragua, the child’s mom brought in folders containing previous evaluations, Xrays, lab results, etc.  Some of the important papers had been folded so often that the print had vanished among the creases, and it was incredibly difficult to piece together the medical history to adequately evaluate and treat.

While healthcare remains a hot topic of debate in the US, for the most part we all have access to care, and insurance makes expensive treatment possible for those in need.  Here in Nicaragua, the doctors focused heavily on costs of treatment vs. benefits.  In particular, there was one child with cerebral palsy who was ideally recommended to have Botox injections for his legs.  The injections would relax his tight muscles to allow for stretching to improve range of motion.  The injections totaled $300 – close to a year’s salary for many Nicaraguans.  It was ultimately decided to not opt for Botox until the condition became so severe that the mom couldn’t move the boy’s legs to change the diaper.  It was more important to keep food on the family's table for as long as possible.  Wow - what a reality check.

Tesoros De Dios translates to Treasures Of God, and I could not think of a more perfect phrase to describe these sweet children.  Here are some pictures of this amazing place.  Photo credits to Sarah from the OT group :)

to begin the school day, each child gets an instrument and plays along to music.  the result? instant smiles.

one of the US doctors listening to a child's lungs

a bus drives around the communities picking up children and parents for school.  the moms carry the children each day.  many don't have wheel chairs at all because they are expensive and difficult to maneuver around the Nicaraguan terrain.

horse therapy helps improve the children's core strength and sensory intake.  the horses are calming, provide a means of relaxation and fun!

one small view of the facility. Emily-this picture's for you. See the trees hanging from the ceiling that we made last summer? :)