Seeing Paama through new eyes

I love when there are visitors on Paama. It’s like seeing Paama for the first time again through newborn eyes. The little things that I take for granted having lived here for 2 years…the carefree nature of the kids who play with fire and knives, smiling faces and welcoming handshakes, the cute chicks and their mother hens pecking around (although they can annoy me sometimes), the lush green of the Paama hills, the cool breeze on the beach and those magnificent sunsets.

Connie, a German native who lives in Australia with her husband and sons, came to Paama to visit with people who are handicapped or disabled. Oftentimes, they hide these individuals from shame or lack of knowing what they can or should do. Connie revealed a statistic that 10% of a population is handicapped or disabled. Which makes about 150 on Paama with a population of about 1500...which seems high but can't be denied since so many are hidden away. She discovered several during her week stay here, many of them coming to light gradually throughout the week but it took some digging.

I spent Sunday with her…which was also Father’s Day in my village so the nakamal was bustling with preparations. Bread and tea for breakfast followed by rice, chicken, fish and laplap for lunch. I accompanied her to visit a 7-month old girl, Karina whose mother, Marie is hearing disabled and Karina born with club feet and abnormal hand. She had been operated on but Connie found that her knees may impede her walking. She showed Mama Marie exercises to do with Karina to make her strong.

We then visited Catherine age 28 with Downs Syndrome who has had a good life, involved daily with housework, cleaning, washing and sewing. Her family has been a good support for her, although some days she spends sitting under the mango tree from sun up to sun down.

Our last stop was a visit with Morris, a 9 month old who my Papa Isaiah has been treating with custom leaf. At 5 months, the parents say Morris was cursed with black magic…Connie found the top of his skull was not fully closed which meant that he may not have a fully developed brain. This was evident by its unsettled crying and even more so by his non-focusing eyes and non-reaction to the banging of a plate. Morris was blind and deaf. It was heartbreaking to see but the Mama was always smiling, cuddling with Morris and showing him love. His Papa too, although he sat aside with a look of worry and concern. His motor skills were of a newborn, not a 9 month old. Connie patiently sat while his Mama nursed him…a reason why he was fatfat and often what she did to quiet him. Connie gave some exercises for them to do with him and encouraged them

This time with Connie showed me another facet of this place which has made me wish I had more time. Awareness and talking about it to people with the short time I have left , I hope will at least help to get it out in the open instead of keeping it hidden. There's always more we can do.