COPE

COPE was started in 1997 as an initiative of POWER International with the Ministry of Health of the Government of Lao PDR and several international non-government organizations.  COPE is now a local not-for-profit organisation that works in partnership with the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) and provincial rehabilitation centres to provide access to orthotic/prosthetic devices and rehabilitation services, including Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.
COPE has four major roles:

1. To act as a portal for skills development and training, upgrading clinical skills in physiotherapy, occupational therapy and P&O within the government rehabilitation services and extending to management and administrative skills to ensure that the COPE develops capacity as a local organisation.
2. To support expenses of patients who are unable to pay for treatment and associated costs as well as upgrading facilities at the five centres currently supported by COPE.
3. To act as an interface between the donor community and the Lao Government. International donors require a recognised standard of auditing and financial accountability for proposals to be successfully accepted and managed.
4. To facilitate referral between the network of clinical services to provide comprehensive treatment of people living with mobility impairments, ensuring people with disabilities in Lao PDR will have access to the rehabilitation services that can improve their ability to participate in their communities.

The long-term vision of COPE is to become a locally-staffed organization that covers the cost of mobility devices and rehabilitation for people in Lao PDR who cannot afford it.

While it takes a long time to train staff and develop infrastructure for quality services, we are making great steps to achieving these goals.  The Prosthetic and Orthodic unit is now all locally staffed by well-trained technicians, an international Physiotherapy Mentor is currently training physiotherapy staff for the Physiotherapy unit and  an international Occupational Therapist is now working with us to develop the paediatric and adult occupational therapy departments. (http://www.copelaos.org/)

Every year, COPE has a Fundraiser.

A group of us took in the fun, festivities, and food at the annual event!

Jon making a contribution

Prosthetic legs where scattered all over the event, used as donation boxes!!



Marla, Carol, and I enjoying the music!

Two colleagues - Patrick and Dirk...the most presentable photo of the evening for these two!

Poor Mark couldn't even enjoy his own sausage sizzle

Dirk

Patrick - I think he forgot that Movember is over....

Two grade 9's selling beer - only in Lao!!

A great night of food, fun, and friends.  As I was leaving, I was treated to a sight of the Lunar Eclipse



Christmas in Vientiane

The annual Vientiane International School Christmas party was this Sunday afternoon.  Anytime there is an event in Laos, you can be sure to see food, food, and more food.  The Social Committee did a wonderful job finding a venu that both adults and kiddos would like.  Before the official fesitivies started, I chatted with colleagues over Beer Lao, spirits, and boxed wine!



Geoff and Garret having a "cheers"



Here, the kiddos are bouncing around on the equipment right before jolly Mr. Claus arrived!!



Spring rolls, salad, corn, beef, stir fry, rice, vegetables, chocolates, cake, etc...etc...etc...

I have yet to see a bowl of lettuce so HUGE!

This is one of four tables spread out around the venu

  

Beef being expertly tended to

Let the Secret Santa exchange begin...well, after the kidlets got theirs first!

Here comes Santa Claus - right down Santa Claus dirt lane!!

 

His sleigh was brought in by a pony - how Lao!!

School Director, Greg Smith - poor fella was a sweaty mess after a few hours

Santa kept calling me a Ho Ho Ho - I think I'll have to take this up with my boss in the morning!

Mr. Lamone - the world's best AND most adorable school bus driver!!

Alison

   

Carol

Todd

Geoff

Jon - notice his "I Believe in Santa Claus" t-shirt!!

Nick

Todd, Carol, and Bryndis enjoying the great food!!

 That's all for this year and in a handful of sleeps I'll be enjoying the tastes, sounds, and smells of Christmas in North America!!!!

8 nights in Bangkok

My friend Carol had to have surgery in Bangkok, and we thought it best that she had a nurse to take care of her when the procedure was said and done.  I will say, she was a fabulous patient.  Below are a series of pictures from our handful of days in Bangkok...again!

Carol is posing to prove she was in fact in the hospital and looking poorly!

In fact, she was feeling pretty good post-op...it was the few days later which proved uncomfortable.

Managed to take a stroll down Khao San Road.  Here I am indulging in some amazing corn and thinking of my friend Michelle the whole time - her fav!

From the BTS(skytrain) platform, here are a few construction workers at noon!!!

  

One afternoon we headed to the IMAX to see "Born to be Wild".  Excellent!

Sadly, this is what I'll look like when I'm 90.  Can you say "blue blockers"???

  

Aside from one other patron, we were the only ones in the theatre!

All You Can Eat Tacos on Tuesdays - we took part!!!  Actually, to be honest, we schedule our day around this.  I guess this is what seniors who wear blue blockers do!!

Glad to be home and in only a handful of sleeps I'm off on a L-O-N-G flight to Phoenix to spend Christmas with my family!!!

The Big 3-4

As many of you know, I absolutely love birthdays - mine and everyone else's.  I'll be honest though, I LOVE mine.  My family and friends know that for days, weeks, and months before November 7th I am sure to remind them of the fast approaching day of my birth.  Those close to me also are aware that if a gift, card, or surprise is delivered to me in the mail prior to November 7th(I figure if I repeat the date, you won't forget it) there is a snowball's chance in hell that I will wait to open it.  My family has tried to fight me on this, but it is a battle they never win.  Okay, maybe only at Christmas. 

My friend Carol is not a huge fan of birthdays, but knows that I love them.  She went absolutely out of her way to ensure mine was great.  Carol took me for breakfast to our favourite little place - Kungs.  I dined on my standard favourite, mango sticky rice pancake and Lao coffee.  YUMMY!

I arrived at work later to find a fabulous birthday greeting!!

Soon after this greeting, my favourite hot bevvy was delivered.  London Fog...mmmm

A week ago I received cards from my sister Ashleigh, her boyfriend Patrick, and my parents.  My friend Carla surprised me with a fabulous Laos watch - it has a Tree of Life on the face and all things Lao on the band.  She also purchased me a fabulous painting of the Tree.  Here are some cards and gifts.  Little did I know this would be just the beginning of my birthday extravaganza.

Like most other days, I met Carol in the staff room for lunch.  Today I was greeted with a treat.  Our favourite western cafe, JOMA makes a turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sandwich for Thanksgiving.  It comes with a side of gravy.  She also ordered me my favourite pumpkin soup and a DC to wash it all down.

Oh, but there's more.  Our nurse, Moe Moe may quite possibly be the nicest woman I have ever met.  Upon request, she whipped up a delicious chocolate cake.  Later in the day, she snuck a bottle of red wine into my purse too.  How lucky am I?!!?

Exhausted from all the spoiling...

Just moments after this shot my principal arrived with the most ginormous bouquet I've ever seen



One would think I would be exhausted from all of the spoils - but I had to get ready for dinner out with friends.  Here is a pre-dinner shot.



Alison, Todd, Carol, Mark, and our new friends Geoff and Emily took me out to La Scala.  Upon arrival I was showered with more gifts.

A glass of wine later and some nice "yellow ribbon" shots!

Here is a snap of all of my treasures from this evening. 



A new backpack

Diet coke

Soda water

Gum

Candles

Facial gift certificate

Foot massage gift certificate

Slippers

Twix chocolate bar

Doritos

At home facial

Scarf

Decorative pipe





I can quite confidently say that I have been blessed with amazing friends and family.  My peeps here in Lao are so unbelievably good to me - I am just so darn lucky to have them all in my life.  Now, only 364 days until 35.  It's never too early to start planning!!