Alaska: Part Seven

Our Last Full Day

Sunday, and we go home tomorrow.  We wanted Sarah to show us where she volunteers cuddling babies at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  Sarah has been doing this for several years, and the stories she tells are amazing.  

The NICU serves the whole state.  Many of the parents live in remote parts of the state, and cannot stay with their babies for great lengths of time.  The Cuddle Corps gives these infants life saving human contact.  Some weigh barely over a pound. Many come into this world addicted to drugs and have to go through withdrawal along with their other issues.  What Sarah and the other volunteers do makes a profound difference on the babies outcome.  They also free up the nursing staff to do their medical work.

Madeline, a former NICU patient herself, gave us a little tour of the unit.  We were very impressed by the level of care offered to the babies and their families.

Well, the sun was shining, and Gail and I wanted to get one more hike in.

 We decided on Falls Creek Trail, down on the Turnagain Arm.  This is Devil's Club with its berries.

 We hiked up the steep trail that started in a birch forest.

 We had bear bells, bear spray, and shouted, "Bear,bear, bear", and other things in places like this.

 I sure do miss the water!

 The Alaskans have a saying, "When fireweed turns to cotton, summer will soon be forgotten."

 We climbed about 2,300 feet, had lunch, and then headed back down.  The trail was very slippery, and we're not used to mud.

In the evening, Sarah hosted a little dinner party for us and a couple of her good friends, Pam and Janet.  Well, our trip was coming to an end.  Thanks so much, Sarah!  I think we'll be seeing you again in Alaska!