It all began with Martine. After a 26 hour journey, I pulled up, many hours late, and was greeted by her smiling face. I was somewhat frazzled and quite tired mentally, physically and emotionally. She was so warm… so energetic and not at all thrown off by my unavoidable tardiness. She is, after all, the captain of this journey. All the planning is in her hands… and she is my guide in more ways than I could have imagined.
My case, being the first of its kind, is being documented and meticulously followed. I was told at the very beginning that I would be interviewed, filmed and photographed. Knowing all of what she had to juggle and oversee made me think that this person that I was about to meet must be very serious, regimented and on top of everything. Don’t get me wrong, she is all of these things, but the only thing I experience when I’m with her is her humanity. She seems to have a similar excitement that I see in Dr. Petit (that this incredible treatment could effectively treat a new skin condition).
I love being in the presence of women who have qualities that I aspire to have. She is quite intelligent both mentally and emotionally and I’m sure that there is a long trail of work and accomplishments behind her that have had a positive impact on those who inhabited her circle of care. Avène Hydrotherapy Center sponsors children from around the globe so that they can get this life changing treatment. Insurance does not cover this treatment in most countries so they are doing everything they can to provide physical and emotional relief for as many as they can. And it’s Martine who holds their hands through this. We arrive nervous, hopeful, afraid… and to have her inviting us… which is exactly what she does, she invites us, she receives us with such enthusiasm that it makes us feel important and valid. This made me feel so confident. I think that the initial response, the initial energy, the initial feeling with which you enter this treatment is so important. Every experience after that is built on this very first step, and Martine makes sure that it is filled with stability, strength.
Shirin In Avène 