Today was a big day. Our first micro-training session and we had the honour to have presented in front of the Orphan Sponsorship Program (OSP) here at the University of Toronto St George. Sundas and I had met an hour earlier to go through what we were going to present, videos to play, and what to discuss. At the beginning, we were not nervous at all. After our intense training, debriefing sessions, and interactions inside and outside the team, everything has begun to feel natural. It’s a part of us now, if not, almost very much so.

As we arrived at our booked conference room at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health Building, the nervousness began to creep in. No, it wasn’t getting the best of us. But we certainly felt the pressure because we were about to set the tone for the rest of our fellow youth health navigators and begin the first of many peer-to-peer trainings we, the youth4health team, have all been anticipating for months.

As the OSA members began to flow in and settle down, all eyes were on us and our toolkit dvd we started off with. Actually, that was also our first time watching the final product of the dvd too so we were just as curious as everyone else what was being shown. Highlighting the Identify, Sensitize, and Connect (ISC) model, we began the discussion that was followed with the social determinants of health. I felt a huge sense of excitement as I was presenting with Sundas. We were giving the very same training that we had received. It felt like only a week ago we were just like them. And we were both thrilled when everyone, as we progressed, asked questions and gave answers. The members from OSA were very receptive and incredibly cooperative. I felt that by stating and making it clear at the beginning that this was a very informal setting and we were not simply there to stand there and talk like professors giving a lecture, there was a much more relaxed atmosphere amongst everyone. Phew.

I honestly felt that Sundas and I gave it our best efforts and got the messages we wanted across. We certainly think they felt the same way too. Of course there is always room for improvements, and you can definitely expect our next microtraining event to be even more interactive! We hope at the very least we have brought more awareness to them about the topics discussed or inspired them to continue the same initiate to be active youth health navigators themselves. What a great roundtable discussion!

Charlotte was there with us the entire time and we couldn’t have been happier for the support. Thank you for the smiles whenever we looked across the table (they were very encouraging).

But most importantly, I must thank Sundas for being such a great partner. This was the first time that I had spent so much personal time with her on and off the job. I have never worked only with her before, not even during our rounds at the Princess Margaret Hospital clinics so I certainly do not know what our dynamics would be together alone. I have to honestly say that I learned a great deal about her today through an indirect professional setting and directly as a friend. We make a great team and I, without a doubt, look forward to other micro-training sessions together.

Fellow youth health navigators, as the dvd has captured all of us youth4health team saying, let’s….

NAVIGATE THIS !

I realize I haven’t been writing much as of late but I’ve been struggling with something that deeply moves me from the inside. For the past few weeks as Roving Information Navigators (just one of our many titles nowadays), we have been interacting with numerous patients/supporters. Equipped with our handy-dandy ipad and some feedback forms (I just don’t want to carry the folders anymore, the size is just intimidating to others), we’ve been walking around providing emotional support and connecting resources to the patients & supporters sitting in clinic waiting areas. I found my little niche during my sessions in the hematology and head and neck clinics.

Rewinding a few months back, I came into this project not having experienced what it was like to have someone close to me going through cancer. I guess some would think it almost a good thing not knowing what it is like, the pain and suffering one would have to endure as a supporter let alone being the patient.

What if one day, you were walking and talking to patients in the head and neck clinic and suddenly saw your mother sitting there waiting for treatment?

I’m a student, an older sister and filling in the position of a caring husband for my single mother, girlfriend, researcher, and a youth health navigator providing support to others. And now, I will have to add caregiver/supporter to this list. It’s interesting how the flipside can quickly come upon you. True story.

The thought is overwhelming and I really tried hard to not think about it. I won’t deny that. It’s difficult when you’re in a position where different aspects of your life demands so much out of you. I didn’t realize how much it was deeply affecting me until I finally decided to share it with our Youth4Health team during one of our meetings. I honestly pondered how the timing of everything played out. Had I not applied for this position, not gone through our rigorous training, and not developed such a strong intimate connection with our Youth4Health team, I might’ve really felt lost, almost alone. Because of these past few months with Youth4Health, I feel better equipped, more well-versed with what our healthcare and its services has to offer. Utilizing the skills I’ve gained to another level. I’m finally ready to face the new challenge.

To our Youth4Health team, the support you provided in just a quick heart beat without hesitation...

I sincerely thank you. I thank you from the very bottom of my heart.

The training so far that we’ve received has been, as what all my other fellow navigators are saying, amazing. We have different teams on both side, from the U of T Public Health and ELLICSR, teaching and supporting us in so many ways. But there is one thing that I find sometimes we, including myself, rely on so much that it in itself becomes a trap. Formulas.

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There always seems to be a formula for everything. I’m not saying that all formulas should be abolished because I recognize there is need for them to help take the right approach. What I’m trying to get at is the fact that, we are bombarded with these books and books of formulas but it becomes problematic when we fully depend on them. In our training, we are given various formulas to learn how to interact with the people we will meet in difficult settings. In school, formulas to do well to get the grades you want. In life, just go to chapters and look at the vast amount of self-help books.

Atul Gawande’s new book “The Checklist Manifesto” talks about the human fallibility and how a simple checklist implemented not only in the operating room but in various health care settings have dramatically improved mortality rates. It sounds simple but no one wanted to use it. He brings in the example of construction buildings, the complexity of it, and the unimaginable coordination needed during all of it. How? Checklists. But there are teams that come together to communicate the problems and consult each other during mishaps especially drastic ones. It’s not unnatural when things go astray and that formula or checklist that you had doesn’t cover it at all.

What am I really trying to say? When we begin to follow strictly to these formulas/checklists especially when communicating with, such as patients, it is very apparent. With that, you also start losing that personal connection with the person you are talking to. Like others have emphasized, they are guidelines, not simply the “If/then” command. We know that, but we often forget. I just want to remind others, but most importantly myself, there aren’t formulas to everything and that’s part of the beauty and spontaneity of life.

December 1st is always the time of year when the campus is buzzing with activities everywhere and also the time I'll get a red ribbon and wear it on my jacket. Last night I helped put together and host the Dignitas Youth "Let's Talk About AIDS" event inviting James Fraser, Alexis McDonald, and Paul Hamel to come speak about their works and student activism. The audience group was diverse and the questions, as you can imagine, were so engaging and thoughts that shook us to the very core. What made the event so amazing was that all three speakers brought various aspects to the issue that addressed everyone's questions in a different way. I find that the time I spend discussing about other topics with Youth4Health is as equally engaging even if it's based only on our cultural backgrounds. And it comforts me that more and more are becoming unafraid to discuss sensitive and controversial issues. Especially with AIDS where so much stigma is associated with it, we are all learning to become more vocal.

To celebrate World AIDS Day, I took part in the "The Red Ribbon Dance" video arranged by the University of Toronto International Healh Program (UTIHP) playing a classic hand game with my boyfriend with using red folders. Probably something you remember playing if you were a girl back in elementary school. Let's all unite and share our compassion with those living with AIDS. Wear red and come out to King's College Circle today at 3pm and be part of the biggest red ribbon on campus!

(You can find me in this video starting at 1min 40s :D )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4x-aVQoZd0

As a way to keep many informed of just the types of services that are offered to everyone, I’ve decided to do a 10 reasons (or less) why you should visit a particular place. Hopefully that will not only be concise but help you find information that will tailour to your needs. And my first candidate for the beginning of my “WHY?” series having visited it recently,

5 reasons why you should visit the Princess Margaret Hospital Family and Patient Library

1. Being a cancer-oriented hospital, they carry almost every brochure there is for cancer-related illnesses. Don’t speak English? Don’t fret just yet. They have it in many languages, such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Hindi just to name a few.

2. Some of the books that people come take out are healthy habits/diets. You can only imagine their vast selection for such a small library.

3. Lots and lots of DVD's (or even video cassettes if you still own a VCR) that will help in understanding the type of cancer-illness you may have. A good majority of them are interactive!

4. Computers with free-internet access while you may be waiting around in the hospital to find information that you may need. Of course be courteous of the amount of time you spend on it if others are in need of the computer too.

5. If there is something that you can’t find, ask the librarian for a form where you can fill it out to get a well-tailored information package. The librarian will search for places/websites that will provide what you are looking for and have it ready for you to pick or send it you via e-mail.

6. I said there was only 5 but an extra one because I think it’s worth mentioning. The librarian, Michelle, is approachable, warm and very informative. Even if you don’t really need to find information, take a little stroll down and say hi to the hard-working volunteers and Michelle!