Thi
Some cool family meals images:
Thi
Image by ReSurge International
Thi is a beautiful 16-year-old who lives near Quy Nhon on the East Coast of Vietnam. I first met Thi late one evening as she was recovering from a six hour surgery on her burned neck. I was feeling tired and hot and a little sorry for myself until I heard her heart breaking story.
A year ago, Thi was cooking squid for the family using oil over a fire to deep fry the family meal. The oil was running dry so she asked a friend to add some more. Unfortunately, the oil spilled over the side of the pot and onto the fire, engulfing Thi’s dress and body in flames.
Dr. Joyce Chen took on the enormous task of trying to release Thi’s neck burn contracture by taking skin from another part of her body and grafting it onto her neck. Dr. Chen asked the local burn surgeon, Dr. Phung, to help her with the surgery.
I saw Thi in the recovery area and took her up four floors to her room where her anxious family awaited. She was very stoic and composed and thanked us as we fed her water from a syringe.
The ward was hot and humid and full of patients and families. Thi’s room was small with 10 other beds cramped into it. Thi did not seem to mind, she was just pleased that she might be able to raise her head again, like any other beautiful 16-year-old girl.
Quy Nhon, Vietnam – Michael Flynn, ReSurge volunteer anesthesiologist.
Saint Patrick’s Day at The Pointe 2014
Image by The Pointe at Kilpatrick
Given our name, The Pointe at Kilpatrick, and our location, south suburbs of Chicago, one might think that we take St. Patrick’s Day seriously. They would be right.
Residents started decorating their doors with shamrocks at the beginning of the month. There were also St. Patrick’s Day themed crafts and activities, including the most anticipated, Soda Bread Baking. Each year, Program Director, Angie Garbaczewski, sets up the small kitchen on the first floor with all the ingredients and supplies for making homemade soda bread. And a lot of them. Starting bright and early at 8:00 and working in small groups, Angie guides the residents through the process. Once one batch is finished, she brings in the next group. This year, they baked for 8 straight hours. The first floor smelled heavenly all day. Once the breads had cooled, the residents would return to claim the one they made. Many of the residents were seen sharing their soda bread with other residents while others were saving theirs to give to family and friends.
St. Patrick’s Day finally came and residents showed their true colors as many arrived for breakfast dressed in green. The hot topic at breakfast was lunch. Everyone was looking forward to the traditional meal of corned beef, cabbage, red potatoes and of course, soda bread. You can never have too much soda bread!
Lunch arrived and did not disappoint. The residents were greeted with the smell of corned beef as they neared the dining room. A sea of green filled the room as residents dined at beautifully decorated tables.
The celebrating didn’t stop there, Garbaczewski booked a singer and harpist to play a St. Patrick’s Day show the day after. Scheduling conflicts made it impossible for her, Kim Vogrin, to play at The Pointe on Monday. "She really is wonderful and well worth the wait." said Garbaczewski. "I knew she would be. Her brother, Paul, performed here on Valentine’s Day, singing and playing various instruments. He was just as entertaining and talented."
2013 – Second Annual Spring Fishing – Saturday
Image by Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing – Northern VA
More than 40 people attended the Second Annual PHWFF Spring Fishing Outing held at Harman’s North Fork Cottages in Cabins, W.Va., March 1-3. The event was hosted by the PHWFF Fort Belvoir and PHWFF Quantico Programs and more than 21 Warriors from seven different PHWFF programs fished 1 ¾ miles of the private access trophy trout stream during the three-day weekend trip.
In attendance at the three-day event were volunteer Guides, Warriors and family members from the two local programs in addition to members from programs in Atlanta; Martinsburg, W.Va.; Richlands, N.C.; and Salem and Richmond, Va. All four traditional military services were represented in addition to the Coast Guard.
The air temperatures never rose above the upper 20s and often included wind chills in the teens with snow flurries throughout the weekend.
Bigg Riggs Farm, owned by Calvin Riggleman, a Marine Iraq combat Veteran and small farmer from Loom, W. Va., provided all meals for the three-day event.
Evenings were filled with fly tying, knot tying instruction, and swapping fishing stories.
The stream had been recently stocked by Harman’s with rainbow and brown trout, ranging in size from 17 to 20 inches, and all Guides and Warriors caught fish during the weekend, including several new Warriors from both programs.
(photo submitted by MMackey)
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