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Volunteer Profile: Tom McLaughlin
Profile: Name: Tom McLaughlin
(aka “Tommy Boy,” the “Surfin’ Scot”).
(No known relation to Diane McLaughlin – at least none
that either will admit to.) Occupation: Physical therapist
and professional Scotsman. Age: 50 (whoa dude!) Family:
wife, Pam; son, Scott, 18; daughter, Michelle, 15. Favorite
Activities: Surfing, guitar, dogs, home chores, church. Favorite
Food: Costco polish dogs with extra mustard and a bottomless
soft drink (gourmet for a Scotsman). Favorite Quote: “It’s
106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack
of cigarettes, its dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses” (Blues
Brothers). Sign: Stop, er ah, Virgo rather. Biggest
Bummer: people who change lanes without signaling. (Tom has
volunteered twice at the Grace Care Center in Sri Lanka.)
What did you do at Grace? My time
is Sri Lanka in May of 2005 was spent familiarizing myself with
the people, environment and work at Grace Care Center and Mercy
Home. Working with Dr. Huckins and nurses Salli, Cindy and Eileen
mostly, we provided initial training to the Mercy Home health
workers in preparation for caring for a potentially large number
of needy elderly residents. Getting to know the girls and staff
at GCC was naturally a part of that, and helped me to settle
into the heart and soul of the overall work of VeAhavta. A lot
of physical work was involved also, including helping to finish
the new building and sorting through donated equipment. Follow-up
from there included communicating with Tara Rondy, a PT from
Michigan, as she would continue the program development with
her visit soon after. My most recent visit (July/August 2006)
brought new concerns for the training of the health workers,
as Mercy Home was half full of residents. With a year of trial,
error and success behind them, the training took on a more realistic
and experiential meaning for the health workers. The rehabilitation
and mobility training sessions covered issues in more depth,
and with a few nice surprises. Bringing in the health workers
from the Sisters of Mercy compound down the road was good for
community building. Including them in the education proved rewarding,
and one of the training sessions took place at their facility
and included all of their residents. Training the staff
in pulmonary physical therapy was crucial for meeting the immediate
needs of one of our elderly residents, and challenged me to recall
skills I haven’t used in a while. Of course, spending
time with the GCC girls, encouraging them in studies, swimming
and English, and trying to be a worthy “uncle” to
them made for happy and serious times as well.
What was the favorite part of your volunteer experience? Seeing
the Mercy Home staff respond to my efforts and striving to overcome
the uncertainty of trying new things with the residents. To hear
from Hiram this week by e-mail that he has witnessed the staff
using their new skills stokes me to no end. I also enjoyed sitting
with the elderly residents (or following them around as they
did their chores) while trying to absorb the depth of their wisdom
and experiences. Many of them have lived such hard lives, and
there is much to be learned from them. The other “favorite” thing
to come from this recent experience is to realize even more how
much my wife loves me and supports my work with VeAhavta.
Any additional thoughts? Yes. There
is no doubt that a great deal of good is happening at the Grace
Care Center and Mercy Home compound, and that it is overflowing
to the surrounding region of Sri Lanka. The awkward juxtaposition
of this with the escalation of violence in the region during
our stay made for an emotional rollercoaster. One wants so badly
for the children, staff and older residents we care for to have
hope for a peaceful and productive future. What should be our
immediate response to the current problems there? I think Father
Lorio answered that question best during our visit: “Prayer.
Only prayer can solve it at this point.” After more than
50 years in Sri Lanka, he says he has never seen human conflict
this bad in Trincomalee. His experience and wisdom deserve our
sober consideration. May we strive to pray as we should, and
may God hear us, as He is the source of “every good thing
given, and every perfect gift [James 1:17].”
Tom during a Mercy Home staff training session
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