New Year of new starts for a dear old friend
We at 1Step2Step have been blessed with the helpful hands and knowledge of not only volunteers through 1Step2Step, but also those who are expats in Thailand with time to volunteer on a regular longer term basis. Dana Stehwien was one of these from America, who was a blessing, bringing her physio training to bless our children for about three years while her husband was based in Thailand for work. She brought us much wisdom in ways like setting up Mr G’s stretching routine, assisting Mr C with therapies that helped his bowel difficulties and sourcing our first ever trike, to name only a few.
She and her daughter were adored by all our treasures, especially Mr S who recognized her car as she arrived in the car park and was sweet on her daughter, who visited us sometimes on school holidays.
Dana helped us on many trips Like Disney on Ice, bowling and the movies. She was a massive support to me in the hard times and the good.
Dana says the ‘Best memories are of our outings like Disney on Ice, the trip to OM’s ‘Logos Hope’ ship and the aquarium at Siam Paragon. My saddest memory is Natty passing over the New Year’s break.’
She adds that while working with me in the orphanage, it…’forced me to be more creative in how I provide interventions; definitely made me be more grateful for the resources available in the U.S.’
Dana left Thailand two years ago to return to the USA. She got a job in a clinic, but she felt, after being in Thailand, that their focus was not her focus anymore. So, it made her want to strike out on her own, starting her own therapy business, something she admits she probably would not have done without the Thailand experience. She adds, ‘I have always felt more like a working therapist, as opposed to a business owner. My mission is to provide quality physical therapy services in the child’s natural environment to maximize their functional mobility. ‘
Able Kids Pediatric Therapy has been running now for just over three months and is building its client base steadily in Cincinnati Ohio. Dana takes the therapy to the clients’ homes, making for a fun packed car, not too dissimilar to the cupboards of 1Step2Step in Thailand. We seem to be doing similar activities to get successes with our children too. It’s great to know that there are children there working hard like ours.
Dana has been a support, even from overseas, both for reassurance regarding the children’s situations, like Mr G’s collarbone break, but also for aiding me to look after myself better.
Dana’s new client base is a mixture of many disabilities and situations like :- Torticollis and Plagiocephaly – Developmental Delay – Cerebral Palsy – Down Syndrome – Toe Walking – Neuromuscular Disorders – Orthopedic Injury
and is providing a range of types of therapy too: – Neuromuscular Facilitation and Re-education – Myofascial Release – Kinesiotaping – Individualized therapeutic exercise and activity – Orthotic evaluation and measurement – Consultation on home modification and adaptive equipment
We know Dana is amazing and makes a huge difference. We wish all her patients great success in reaching closer and closer to their potential with her help. We still miss Dana very much, but wish her well in everything with this, her new mission. May her experiences with us with our limited resources help her to continue in her creative alternative ways, as well as to be thankful for all the resources she can give those children. We also want to thank her for her time with us and for her continued support, even from these great distances.
Nicola Anderson