Feet! Guide Them Into the Way of Peace

Sister Lenora Benda

With the winter upon us, the journey for many homeless persons may continue to be long and difficult as some have had irreparable damage to their feet. One can equate feet with traveling through life-- our journey in life.

Most of us have two feet. Did you know that 25 percent of the bones in your body are in your feet? An intact nervous and motor system is needed for your feet to work. More than 70 percent of all people in the United States will have painful foot problems at some time during their lifetime.

Our feet have taken us everywhere we wanted to go since childhood. The average person, engaging in non-strenuous activity, walks approximately four miles every day. During a typical day, the feet endure a cumulative force of several hundred tons. Like the rest of your body, your feet change as you grow older. The padding on the bottom of the foot may erode, causing pain in the heel or ball of the foot. The skin loses some of its elasticity and natural oils, increasing the risk of infection. Circulation tends to diminish, causing cold feet and numbness. To keep our feet with us on our journey, they need care and attention.

Some of the problems that affect the feet of patients at Christ House, where our mission is to provide health care for the homeless, include rashes, infections, open sores/ulcers, swelling, calluses, corns, blisters, bunions, burns, warts, arthritis, gout, sprains, strains, ingrown nails, hammer toes, fractures, and frostbite. Many of these patients have to walk places and have to stand in long lines waiting for food, food stamps, certificates, identification cards, shelter at night, a warm jacket or a special handout.

During the winter, many of these patients come with frostbitten feet, one foot, or amputated toes or feet. They have walked miles and miles before coming to Christ House, perhaps more miles than an average person will ever walk in their lifetime. And sometimes they were not able to walk in the best conditions-- with ill-fitting shoes or no shoes at all, with or without socks. Their feet have tried to hold them up, to support them through rain, sleet, ice, snow, cold, assault and injury.

Of the 34 patients presently at Christ House, 18 are receiving some specific care for their feet. This care includes whirlpool, soaks, lotions, debridement, medicated creams, dressings with saline solution, antibiotic creams, and Unna boot usage. At times, assistance is needed to apply elastic stockings or ace wraps as well as with special walking devices such as crutches, walkers, or canes. Range of motion exercises may also be needed. Their feet may even need to travel to the podiatrist, the orthopedist, the dermatologist or the vascular surgeon.

At Christ House, we hope our patients can walk in comfort and peace as they leave, having received needed healing care during their stay with us.

Sister Lenora Benda, RN, ANP, is a nurse practitioner at Christ House, which provides health care for men who are homeless and sick. She has been a member of the medical staff there since 1986. This article originally appeared in the Christ House newsletter, Day by Day.

Hunger Notes Home Page

copyright