Terri's impact on Tinian

It is hard to describe adequately the impact Terri is having on the people of Tinian. Terri has been known for her comfortable bed-side manner. It is one of the reasons seven doctors signed a paper asking colleges to accept Terri as a student to become a PA—they all knew she would be a good provider.

That unique bed-side manner showed up again during her clinical rotations at school. Even though each rotation was only six weeks, within a short time doctors would be relying on Terri to work with their most difficult patients—knowing that Terri could help them both understand, and actually make the difficult decisions that need to be made in hospital settings (most of you will remember the story of the man that refused to have his leg amputated—every doctor and nurse had tried to explain that if the leg wasn’t removed, he would lose his life, all to no avail; but just a few moments with Terri, and he was ready!).

That bedside manner, and care for her patients, is now on display every day at the Tinian Hospital. Let me give you just one example.

Wednesdays are well-child day. Women bring in their small children for regular check-ups, and just to make sure everything is ok. One day a woman and her small daughter (perhaps 5 or 6 years old) came to the clinic to be examined. Terri examined the little girl, and then had her do a few physical activities to check her skills and at the same time be able to check her bone structure and muscles, etc. Terri asked the mother and child to come out into the long hall in front of Terri’s office so they would have more room. Then Terri had the little girl walk down the hall and back, then hop on one leg, and then the other, etc.

But suddenly there was a serious problem that came to light…when asked to ‘skip’ down the hall and back, the little girl looked confused. She didn’t know how to skip! So, without missing a beat, Terri took the child’s hand, and was soon ‘skipping’ up and down the hall with this small girl. All of the nurses and other patients laughed and clapped as they watched this unusual spectacle.

For the last ‘test’ of the child’s ability, Terri asked the little girl to run as fast as she could down the hall and back. With a broad smile and a giggle, the little girl took off as fast as her small legs could carry her, up and down the hall. As she ran back , Terri knelt down and let the little girl run into her arms, Terri lifting the little girl off her feet in triumph, both of them laughing and giggling with joy!

And so it goes. Each patient given time and attention, each child made to feel warmth and love, bed-side care that can only come from a provider that truly loves her patients. It is easy to see that Terri is truly where she was meant to be!