via Khmer NZ
By John Ranallo
Published: Monday, July 12, 2010
Local woman works in clinic in Vietnam
Janna Tamminga will never forget the 10-year-old girl she treated at a clinic outside of Sihanoukville, Cambodia.
The girl was carried in by her dad as she had lost all functionality in the right side of her body because of an illness that she contracted when she was 1 year old. The girl’s dad had carried her around for close to 10 years.
Looking at the girl, Tamminga, a physical therapist and certified kinesiotape practitioner, wasn’t sure if there was anything she could do for her, but decided to let her try using a cane. Tamminga didn’t really expect good results.
The girl tried standing with the help of the cane. Moments later she slowly crept forth with her weight balanced and took the first steps she had ever taken by herself. They were the first true steps in her 10-year-old life. The girl smiled and let out a loud giggle as her eyes welled up with tears. The eyes of Tamminga and others in the clinic welled up too. It was a special moment.
Tamminga has lived in Beloit for the last 20 years and operates Building Blocks Pediatric Physical Therapy LLC and works part time in Beloit Turner School District. Tamminga returned home after a five-week humanitarian-aid mission in Cambodia and Vietnam at the beginning of July.
Project Hope was responsible for the humanitarian mission which Tamminga was on. The mission brought together members of the U.S. Navy and many volunteer doctors and nurses on a medical boat that traveled around Southeast Asia treating those in need. Many of the visitors to the clinic did not speak English but expressed their gratitude to the volunteers. Tamminga and others worked mostly through translators and saw patients in Vietnam and Cambodia.
During the course of the trip she served on the USNS Mercy and treated illnesses, aches and pains, splinted broken bones and taught people exercises and activities to help them care for their bodies. She was one of many volunteers in the effort.
“I think we made a tremendous difference,” Tamminga said. “It was a wonderful experience.”
As a pediatric physical therapist Tamminga works with newborns, kids with Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy and those needing joint and body rehabilitation. She likes knowing she can make a difference and loves her jobs. Her favorite part is the kids. She spends lots of time playing with them to help build muscle strength, coordination and control.
“We have a lot of fun,” she said. “It is a joy to get up and go see the kids.”
Tamminga has often times thought of taking other mission trips but was waiting for the right time and opportunity. Without kids or any family in the area, she felt she could be helpful during the five-week-effort. Tamminga said Project Hope helped by organizing the effort and finding arrangements for its volunteers. Tamminga is happy to be home but enjoyed helping. She feels blessed for all she has and is thankful for her newfound experience.
Before going on the trip she prayed to God that she would touch at least one life. Judging from the girl in the clinic, it is safe to say she reached at least one. Tamminga said there was no way to describe the girl’s giggle upon taking her first steps.
“She just couldn’t stop the overwhelming joy,” Tamminga said. “I found it very, very heartwarming just to be with the people.”
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