Especially during the holiday season my mind shifts and begins to focus on special people in my life as well as the gifts I have been fortunate enough to receive throughout the years. This year has been especially one filled with blessings for me. I was honored to be the Occupational Therapist on the Friendship Medical Team, and feel that I have been given the opportunity to not only touch the lives of many precious children in China but also receive more than my words can express.

I had the opportunity to teach the orphanage staff how to develop the children’s daily living skills. By interacting with the aunties and their babies, together we facilitated developmental milestones and normalized muscle tone. I found those I interacted with to be open to different ideas. As an example, we promoted interaction between the babies by rearranging their furniture and their positions in the cribs so they can see or touch each other while in their beds. I also taught staff how to make simple toys from inexpensive household items. These adaptations encourage interaction with objects in the environment enhancing their motor, cognitive, and sensory skills.

I found the Chinese people I met to be trusting, caring, loving, generous, and gracious—just like most of us here in the U.S. Love transcends the language barrier and cultural differences.

I want to express my gratitude for allowing me to be a member of the Friendship Medical Team. The team members were an outstanding group of men and women who have also touched my life. I will not ever forget the angelic faces of the children, the warmness of our Chinese hosts, and the genuineness of the medical team who have all touched my life.

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