Volunteering Days 5 & 6 We cannot believe we already have to make preparations for leaving! My how time flies! On Monday Talin and I started our work day by seeing Virap again. Here we are fitting him with a SoftPro splint to preserve right forearm, wrist, & hand tendon…

“When the roots are strong, the tree will survive.” — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Summary: In 2007 I found my family tree (father’s father’s side) dating back 300+ years…

Volunteering Day 4 Talin and I continue to foster a solid working relationship with our Armenian counterparts. Datev (far left) and Vahe (far right) are both physiotherapists/kinesiologists. Gor (2nd from left) is the department manager. They have been wonderful allies thus far, both open & receptive to learning as well…

Volunteering Day 3 We arrived at the Gratsia center this morning and were whisked away to work with a 20 year-old soldier named Aram who had sustained a gunshot wound to his left upper arm resulting in peripheral nerve damage of the left arm and hand. …

Volunteering Day 2 Today we started by touring additional departments of the facility. Most patients participate in hydrotherapy everyday at 11am. There is also a full gym, basketball court, and racquetball court.

Today we arrived at the Armenian Red Cross Society Gratsia International Rehab Center for our first day of volunteering.

It’s been a long journey (left my apartment in NYC at 5:45AM on Friday, arrived to our hotel in Yerevan at 2:30AM on Monday) - but we made it! With luggage in tow, Arek dropped me off at Newark Liberty International Airport, and I set off on my first leg…

I want to start by sincerely thanking everyone who has supported this cause and really made it all possible. …