United Aromatherapy Effort

Sandy Hill's Impressions

Mon, May 12, 2008
12:20am

There is a strong blessing in the art of human touch. In a world sometimes afraid of feelings and touching there is a very real need for compassionate touch and caring contact. In a time when too often physical interaction is hurtful or at least uncomfortable, the disciplines of Professional Massage provide a healing contrast. I got to witness this healing first hand when I joined forces with Carolina Emergency Response Massage Team (CERMT) and The United Aromatherapy Effort(UAE). We went to New York City and provided on-site chair massage to the rescue workers from the World Trade Center disaster.

My girlfriend, Dori Larson, and I had the most awesome experience. It was a real privilege to be a part of the CERMT Mission of providing stress relief to emergency responders and caregivers following a disastert. On Feb 10, 2002, 16 massage therapists from all over the US got together at the Hilton to meet each other and to get our assignments for the week . Doug E. Rasmusson, the state director of CERMT, did his best to prepare us for the week ahead. He handed out a yellow envelope that held our schedules, maps, debriefing forms and badges. The team had been there two times before. Doug E. demonstrated the chair routine that we were to use for maximum stress relief. It included important accupressure points to hit to release muscle tension.

We worked at 37 different sites giving massages to NYC firefighters, police, port authorities, social workers, construction workers and others effected by 9-11. We worked at fire houses, the port authorities at all three area airports, the relief site at St. PaulÕs Cathedral (near ground zero), the landfill on Staten Island and at various community social service centers.

Working with the firefighters at the fire houses was a very special time for me. It was there that I got to witness the beautiful "brotherhood " these men shared. They lived together. They ate, slept, worked and played together. I enjoy being in their presence and seeing this special bond they shared. They were very close. Maybe it comes from living in such tight quarters or maybe it was becuase they knew they could count on each other in life and death situations. They knew each other well and were not afraid to give each other a hard time. Their love for each other was real and it came with such an acceptance. They were willing to give it all for their fellow brothers. These men knew how to play but when that fire bell rang and it was time for work, they were ready for action. The play stopped and the firefighters quickly threw on their protective gear. You could see them prepare themselves mentally at same time; it was as if suddenly they were completely different people, seriously dedicated to their important task.

There were some fire fighters from Hopkins, MN. who stopped by to visit and offer their support. The NYC fire fighters were quick to offer a meal and bed. This bond the firefighters have does not stop at the state lines. It was truly a blessing for me to watch all of this.

The most spiritual place I worked was at St. Paul's Cathedral near ground zero. The Salvation Army was set up there offering food, first aid, cots and pews to rest upon. It was there that all the donations were sent. There was such a variety of donated items from chapstick to socks, hand warmers to lotion. They had been sent pop machines stocked with water, juice and pop. There were snack bars wrapped with artwork and notes of support. Volunteers were there preparing and serving hot meals. Chiropractors were there to offer simple adjustments. There was a pastor there offering her support and care. Social works were also there to lend a listening ear. We got to massage out of George Washington Prayer Pew. It was a very quiet place, lit dimly with candlelight. We worked the 2:00am - 8:00am shift. The walls, pews, beams and the balcony were wall paper with the children artwork, thank you notes and cards of support. There were banners hanging from the balcony. One was from Oklahoma that simply said New York, We love you. They knew what this pain felt like. I don't think there was any of the walls left untouched by these efforts of support. It felt good to be surrounded by all these simple, yet powerful human attempts to overcome this horrible act of evil that we all call "9-11."

Over the week we worked on some pretty tired and tense muscle and provided aromatherapy to help ease the effects of the "WTC cough." It was a real privilege to work on these people. It was remarkably rewarding to feel the tension ease at the touch of our fingertips. Touch can sometimes express so much more than words. We were able to communicate to these people our support, concern and care through our hands. Sometimes people wanted to talk and sometimes they wanted to be quiet. Touch is a very powerful healing tool. The healing has started.