Prison PT

Some of my favorite things

There are a few gems that greet me in the morning before diving into the mix of seeing patients.

As I enter past the iron gates, there’s a well-taken-care-of courtyard. In the still of the morning, I’ll seek to hear the doves cooing somewhere high in the trees, amongst the ruffles of the palm fronds. The waft of rose petals makes it feel somewhat normal. And from the lushness of green, just before the hospital doors there’s a border of cacti and desert plants that remind me of a Nevada or Arizona landscape. I take it all in before heading into the more sterile inner building.

Once inside our offices face out to the yard with a view of a sliver of water and a full view of the mountain beyond. I look forward to seeing the ever changing view out those windows. Sometimes the fog sits heavy on the hills and you can barely see the top. At times the fog is low but the sun is shining on the base. It’s always changing and provides a connection to the outside world. I look to see if the wind is up on that side of the grounds….the palm fronds and color of the water are the telltales.

And finally, before the din of the day starts and the officers check to see if I’m ready for my first lock up to be escorted down, I look down to the yard to see my most favorite sites. The black puppy lab and his inmate caregiver/trainer running on the baseball/soccer field. The dog waits with his head down, poised to take off when his trainer gives the signal, knowing there’s a treat waiting for him.

The prison has a new program, partnering with Canine Companions where inmates train puppies to be companions for people with disabilities. It’s a win win for the fortunate inmate, as well as the individual in the community who will be the next companion.

The site of seeing a man and his pup run in the yard is a joy and provides a sense of normalcy. There are currently two black labs at the prison and their caregivers give them equal time for a morning run before they head off to work or classes. Double the joy for me and the locked up patient that may be with me for that first session.

And that’s that….the peace/diamond of the morning before the yard opens up to everyone else and the unknown of the day is ahead.

*just to note, I’ll be leaving out the name of the institution that I work at. It’s a state prison for reference. Images are not from the prison as no devices are allowed in.

caring for the incarcerated

Prison PT