Amazing things will happen today if you choose not to be
a miserable cow is my wallpaper on my computer. I am frequently these days a “miserable cow.” I suffer from depression and it seems to be
getting the best of me. I don’t cry…no, I
just cannot do what I need to do.
As in the United States, many of the street people here in Nicaragua need serious mental care.
Mental health issues seem to be the last societal issues to be dealt
with; probably because it costs money and is on-going.
Earlier this month a local TV station, Channel 4, brought volunteer medical professionals to the Nueva Vida Clinic on
a Saturday to provide free care. Among the varied doctors, nurses, physical
therapists, and dentists there was a psychiatrist. Hopefully mental health is becoming identified
nationwide as critical.
When Pat died,* I laid awake thinking how were we going to
address the many and varied mental health issues that present themselves in the
poor of Nueva Vida. Stress increases
heart disease and diabetes. Depression
increases the desire to just die. Grief
can overwhelm a father and cause a family to go hungry. Trauma can trigger crippling anxiety. And the children…
Pat was wonderful with children…her play therapy helped so
many kids talk about abuse, trauma, grief, and fear. Much of her work went into learning disabilities
in children and helping families and schools cope with their over-active
children and helping the children learn how to learn.
God, the Universe, Fate…what have you…provided Dr. Acuna,
who volunteers at our clinic three mornings a week. She works with our patients to help them
cope. She is loved by the patients and
she gives her time freely – at least for now.
We hope to find sponsors for her,** so that her need for an income can be
met and she can continue working with us.
Feeling overwhelmed…feeling unable to care for your loved
ones…feeling panicky…or just like a miserable cow…is crippling. Poverty holds millions in a state of trauma,
grief, fear, and hopelessness…having a trained listening ear is invaluable.
-Kathleen
*Pat Floerke, our loved community member and counselor at
the clinic, died suddenly on December the 18, 2018 after a fall -
probably due to a severe stroke - and severed her carotid artery and jugular vein.
**If you can help with ongoing costs of the clinic, that would be wonderful! You can give here: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/jhc-cdca
**If you can help with ongoing costs of the clinic, that would be wonderful! You can give here: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/jhc-cdca
