Today we visited a place that is dear to our hearts each time we come. The phrase "diamonds in the rough" definitely comes to mind. We saw old friends and made new friends. Charity was reunited with a young man that has had a special place in her heart since her very first visit to Anini. Anini is an orphanage for individuals with special needs of every age and houses 70 people total. We were greeted with a presentation and tour of the facilities as well as the school. Each house had an ambassador that introduced us to their 'families.' One young man led us in a very special prayer that touched every heart. One kindergarten class even welcomed us with a song. We then broke up into groups and started working.
Craig and the physical therapists worked together to modify equipment and were able to improve the posture of these children in their wheelchairs. They also fit orthotics and worked on walking with two of the toddlers.
Dana and Kori visited a room of adolescent boys and were able to share sensory techniques with the nannies as well as offer advice for a couple of special cases. They also provided positioning techniques, range of motion, and splints for the nannies and younger kiddos.
Paige and Cindy modeled functional language activities that could be done with the children to stimulate language development in a group setting. They also watched a group of kids eat and made recommendations for precautions to take for safe eating. They ended the afternoon with an awesome dance party! We are planning the playlists for more dance parties tomorrow!
Ashley was busy all day being every single persons right hand woman. She ranged kiddos, assisted with equipment, took wonderful pictures, and joined the dance party. She continues to keep us in line and on time every day. The kids love her smile and contagious laughter. She always has a hug or high-five for them.
Everyone was encouraged to see items that had been left on previous trips being used currently. The nannies are following through with techniques previously taught and this is very uplifting. It is so nice to know that our work has had a lasting effect.
Our hearts and prayers go out to a dear friend at home this evening. Know that we are praying for you and thinking of your sweet family.
We spent the day working in Antigua. We were not allowed to take pictures but we are happy to share some from our walk there. They were a little unsure of us when we arrived but we were able to adjust so many chairs and fit the children with equipment that they started lining the children up in their wheelchairs for us to see. They asked us to come back, it was amazing! Please pray for this new relationship. Next stop, Anini!
Please continue to pray for strength, wisdom, and endurance as our TEAM finishes their work in Guatemala!
Quick recap....our time in Campur!
After a good nights rest, we headed to Hermano Pedro. We walked in to see dance class in action! We were soon led to another area where the therapists started a line of patients to be seen.
Lori and Charity cleaned out an entire suitcase fitting orthotics and shoes on these precious kiddos. They tag teamed several times with both Craig and the OTs and SLPs to make adjustments on wheelchairs using everything from pool noodles to spare wheelchair parts, foam, and duct tape. Kori and Dana were able to fit many hand splits on kiddos for functional hand use. Almost every kid could be fitted for Benik hand splits. They also used built up handles to create homemade splints when no other splint fit.
Ashely took on the PT and OT role of ranging these kids while they waited in line. Cindy and Paige assisted in positioning for better breathing and swallowing as well as feeding precautions for aspiration risks.
Craig, Leo, and Juan took on the wheelchairs! Craig's most challenging patient was Silvia. She presented with CP and a right side C-curve. She was seated in a sling seat, sling back, wheelchair that was far too big for her. We used a rigid seat and 2 rigid backs off of other chairs to fabricate seating that would position her properly. With many modifications we were able to attach this seating to her frame and when we left she was seated in an upright position.
We worked so late that most of the workers had gone home and the doors had been locked. After we finally managed to pull ourselves away, we were able to enjoy some wonderful scenery and loads of laughter. Buenos noches from Antigua!
What a beautiful place to spend the Lord's day. We arrived this morning at our community clinic to find people already waiting for us. We were surprised to find so many adults seeking our help today in addition to many children. Fortunately, we were able to modify some of our equipment to fit the adults. Many spare and extra parts were used to fashion different items. A back brace was made from parts of a wheelchair armrest, foot orthotics were made from another armrest, and a prosthetic foot was created from a pool noodle and an orthotic.
We assessed children with many different disabilities such as hearing loss, autism, polio, spina bifida, congenital dwarfism, elephantitis, Down Syndrome, amputations, and many more.
The needs were great, our hearts are fulfilled, but our bodies are tired...
More Campur pictures to come soon!
"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy..." Colossians 1:11
Day 3:
Another early day for TEAM Guatemala! At 4:30am, our drivers picked us up in Guatemala City. They loaded up the bus and the truck and we headed to Campur. We saw the beautiful scenery Guatemala has to offer during the 6.5 hour windy, curvy, mountanous trek. We were grateful that no one got sick during the ride. Our drivers treated us to the local radio stations during the entire trip. We had lots of dance parties and karaoke opportunities.
We were able to set up evaluation areas in the indoor soccer facility in Campur. Craig was able to immediately fix a wheelchair for a little boy and give away several pieces of equipment. We wish we could have had more equipment; the need was greater than the supplies. For one person, he made a cane because all of the canes had been given to others.
Many of the people that came to see us today had never received medical care. One of the young ladies is in a desperate situation. We directed her to a doctor and will follow up on her tomorrow. It was difficult to see some of the conditions and not have a quick solution to their problem or something to help them.
We met a 10 year old boy who had fallen on a machete at the age of 4 and lost his right eye and had left side weakness. He received a splint for his hand and a brace for his foot. He received a pair of shoes and was able to tie his own shoes with one hand. We were so fascinated with his ability to do this with one hand, we asked if we could video it.
Cindy was able to work with a 17 year old young man who is hearing impaired. He uses a few signs that he has created and gestures only. Cindy was able to teach him a few signs and get him to vocalize some consonant sounds. He has the most beautiful, contagious smile. Askansas School for the Deaf donated a sign book in Spanish and this was passed on to this young man and his family.
Charity and Lori were able to provide a wheelchair, braces and shows for a little girl with Spina Bifida. Initially, she was uncertain of the wheelchair. Once she realized that she would be able to move the chair herself, she began to propel herself.
Dana and Kori were able to teach a 10 year old girl with a brachial plexus injury a home strengthening program and the tools needed to do these exercises.
Several of the local girls came to see what was going on at the soccer facility. They were not in need of assessments so we took the opportunity to play with them (kick ball, parachute, and teach them some cheer moves using the pom poms we brought from home). A fun time was had by all.
We cleaned up our therapy supplies and packed up the van and headed to San Pedro Carcha, where we would stay the night. We were greeted by the Mayor and provided a wonderful meal. Several of the children performed the cultural dancing in traditional costumes. We thoroughly enjoyed their performance. At the end of their performance, Craig presented the Mayor's family with a wheelchair. In March, one of his family members (20 year old male) was involved in a car wreck and lost both of his legs in the accident. He is still in the hospital but the family hopes to bring him home soon, and are grateful to have a way to transport him when they do.
*The TEAM is currently at a place with no internet, but we hope to post some pictures soon!*
Blog Post Day #2
We started off our day breaking into two groups...we dropped Cindy, Dana, Lori, and Craig at Alida España and Paige, Kori, Charity, and Ashley headed to Mama Carmen's.
Alida España is a school for children with special needs. In the morning, our group gave a presentation about how to know the difference between sensory and behavioral difficulties to the staff of the school and some of the students' parents. They were given techniques and real life examples on how to address these issues. We then broke into small groups and each therapist led small group discussions while Craig worked on a set of twins wheelchairs. Craig was able to make custom cushions to provide improved postural support for both boys.
At Mama Carmen's, we were greeted by familiar faces, Cesar and Merlin, and quickly made lots of new little friends. We were able to fit some kiddos with Beniks and orthotics and educate the caregivers on good positions for the more involved children. We also did lots of language development activities with lots of kiddos.
The group was reunited at Alida España where a wonderful lunch was prepared for us by the children. In the afternoon, each discipline paired up and evaluated 15 students. We were able to demonstrate therapy techniques and give equipment to the therapists that work at the school. Only a PT or an OT would cry over a scooter board and quad canes! We also got to work with parents and provide them with home programs.
When we were packing to come to Guatemala, Lori and Charity found in our donations, two sets of tennis shoes that were so specialized that we almost didn't bring them. Each pair of shoes had one shoe with a lift. God threw us a surprise party this afternoon when two children came to us today that both needed a shoe with a lift! The shoes were the perfect size and had a lift on the side that needed it!!! Only God could provide that!!!! The smiles on the faces of the kids and parents made all our hurdles the past two days worth it!!!! On a side note, our equipment specialist, Craig Evans, 22nd anniversary is today. Happy Anniversary.