FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Whelan Treated Patients From Ages 3 to 92 in Underserved Communities.
San Salvador, El Salvador - Despite being scheduled in the middle of the season, Adelphi assistant swimming and diving coach Kelly Whelan knew that she would not miss the opportunity to participate in a mission trip to El Salvador to aid people in underserved communities.
A member of the joint Adelphi/St. John's/Hofstra audiology program, known as the Long Island Doctor of Audiology Consortium, Whelan and six other doctorate students joined a volunteer program offered through the department. The mission was sponsored by the hearing aid company, Starkey, which offers trips all over the world where they provide free hearing aids to people of all ages.
The time in El Salvador was short, but amounted to training and orientation on day one, seeing patients on the second and third days, and finished the trip with a guided tour of San Salvador and the beaches. In all, the trip provided the gift of hearing to 1,159 patients from impoverished communities all over El Salvador. Whelan treated patients from 3 years old to 92 years old, most of whom did not have shoes or running water.
WHELAN'S THOUGHTS.....
"I volunteer with children at a Deaf Camp every summer and that's where my passion for helping others started. As soon as I heard about this mission trip, I knew I had to go."
"We take so many things for granted and a trip like this really puts things into perspective. Being able to give someone the ability to hear after being deaf for so many years (or in some cases for the first time ever!) was extremely emotional."
"Words cannot explain how grateful I am to be part of this magic. This was an unforgettable first mission trip but certainly not my last!"
-Information and photos for this release provided by Adelphi athletic communications-
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