TEAMworks Guatemala Day 5

Today was truly a day of collaboration. We spent our day at the Learning Spot, a therapy center run by our friend Diana. She uses her special education degree and training provided by TEAMworks to provide basic therapy to kids in her community. Today was a special day, as it was a holiday in Guatemala and all of the parents were able to accompany their children to the clinic. The goal of today was to use and then build on the treatment plans created by Diana and her team, as well as educate the parents on home programming ideas.

We first met Juanito, a determined boy with cerebral palsy. Paige was able to use a standardized speech test to assess his language level and simultaneously teach Diana how to give the test. Nicole was able to cast him for braces to help get better weight bearing during walking. And, Kelly was able to give him hand brace for better functional hand use. He was so sweet and excited for each of us to work with him and even shared what the other had done using gestures. He pointed to Paige and then to his mouth with his finger, to Kelly and the splint on his hand, and Nicole and the casts on the floor. He has such amazing potential and we are so excited he is at Learning Spot for therapy.

We then met Esteban. His dad has great skills to modify and make therapy equipment for the kids at the Learning Spot and those that will benefit his child. He and his wife were very invested in all we had to offer and videoed all that we did with their son. Kelly and Nicole were able to get him in to more functional positions and provide strengthening techniques for his arms, legs, and trunk; and, Paige was able to complete oral motor strengthening for better feeding.

Pedrito was an exciting ball of energy with many sensory and communication needs. Paige was able to initiate PECs and signs for better communication as well as, provide a vibrating star teether. Pedrito really enjoyed the input to his mouth! Kelly was able to demonstrate many sensory techniques to provide more proprioceptive input to decrease head banging. Pedrito enjoyed all of the input, but he liked it most when Kelly bundled him in a body sock and bounced him up and down. You could really see him relax in these moments.

Diana's friend helped bring in two children from outside villages. We were aware of them before we arrived and brought equipment based on their desired skill. Nicole was able to help a 14 year old girl walk with a walker. It was her desire to walk by her birthday and she did! The whole team was able to help a young boy with functional positioning, strengthening, and oral motor skills. Nicole was also able to help the boy with ankle stability when standing by giving him braces and Kelly was able to give him a stretching splint to use at night.

Diana really saved the best for last...a sweet baby girl from an orphanage nearby. We were all able to snuggle her and show Diana how to complete some developmental testing to help with future treatment plans.

We are exhausted from our productive day but, we wouldn't have it any other way! Diana's heart to serve the children in her community is evident and we are so blessed to be part of her team.

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