Sunday. Day off. Tama and I went north to the life jacket graveyard to get life jackets for making bracelets. As we left the Skala skimos, the northern part of the island where refugee rafts generally come in, about 15 minutes north on a dirt road we came across a refugee camp. We were shocked. I [...]
Tuesday triage, a cold evening by the sea. Emotionally challenging due to 2 patients. One a young man, disheveled, clearly suffering. He had deep wounds from cutting, huge bandages on one arm, and new cuts on his chest, begging for help. He has a psych appointment for three days later but is clearly in distress NOW. [...]
Sunday - not a day off, but a beautiful day. We finished up with the pharmacy storage at One Happy Family. Then went over to the Refugee4Refugees warehouse which has to be moved tomorrow to a new warehouse. Cathy, Sid, Lily, hard at work with the R4R team sorting through literally tons of donations put them [...]
The Hands On Global team is still on the ground in Greece working at the new Kera Tempe Camp which houses close to 8,000 refugees. The conditions here are bleak: limited toilets, summer tents, cold water showers from a water bladder, no electricity.The worst is for those isolated by COVID. The isolation area is deplorable and [...]
Saturday, a day off from the clinic. But still work to be done so the team split up. Cathy and Lily went to the Home For All warehouse and sorted and bagged clothes for distribution. There is an urgent need for warm clothes and coats as winter weather approaches . . , predicted for Monday. Tama, [...]
Grateful Thanksgiving week. It was wonderful to see all the posts of gratitude. It is early Saturday morning. I was planning to sleep in, but the external clock and the slightest hint of morning light have my eyes open, jumping out of bed for that first cup of coffee.The last 2 days of clinic flowed at [...]
A cold windy afternoon and evening in triage by the sea. Soon triage will be enclosed - hopefully before the next rain predicted for Monday. I love doing triage because I love meeting all the refugees who come for medical care. Many come with significant issues others come for a band aide or a paracetamol for [...]
Today Tama, Lily and I went to Home Away in the morning. Lily will be doing work in their warehouse where they do food and clothing distribution as winter is coming and people need coats. We stopped at their restaurant and asked if they could include hot food delivery to the covid isolation unit and they [...]
Thinking of all my family and community and the covid numbers in the USA. Here on the island there were 70 new cases yesterday. That is huge and people are wearing masks. The restaurants and most businesses are closed. Are there still gatherings of friends and family? I am not sure. Working in the camp we [...]
By the sea, the beautiful sea. Triage is still outside and the weather has been very windy and cold. Wearing 4 layers and my down jacket and still chilled to the bone. I came back to the house and the team was sitting around in blankets and using hot water bottles - except for Lily who, [...]
