Stacy and Amy -- Getting Ready for Trip #3

Stacy and I are also pulling together our plans for our third mission working with International Extremity Project in Vietnam. As pediatric therapists (Stacy is Physical Therapist, I'm a Speech-Language Pathologist), we have the opportunity to work directly with children and parents at the Children's Hospital in Can Tho, as well as with the IEP surgical team.


During the first few days in Can Tho, Stacy works with the surgeons as the IEP team makes decisions about specific surgeries and post-surgery rehabilitation. Meanwhile, I get to indulge my inner administrative assistant and help set up a triage and registration system for the prospective surgical patients.

We will then go on to work directly with the physiotherapy staff and patients at Can Tho Children's Hospital. We demonstrate and lecture about therapeutic principles and techniques for young children who have a variety of issues affecting their development including birth deformities, cerebral palsy, cleft lip and palate, Down syndrome and other genetic disorders, mental retardation, autism, and neuromotor impairments.

Stacy

We will bring donations of therapy materials and equipment to Can Tho and will teach the therapists how to use these new items with their patients. We will also travel to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) for a few days to work with the staff at the main Children's Hospital there.

We are really looking forward to seeing the therapists, children, and parents again! This is an invaluable professional opportunity for all of us!

Thank you for your support!