Wheelchair Jornada

Jornada is the word we use here for a team. So a wheelchair jornada is a wheelchair team. There is a group based out of Chimaltenango, Guatemala that imports broken and damaged wheelchairs, rehabilitates them, and then distributes them to those in need. They came to Chichicastenango today (at ASELSI).

Duane flew in this morning with Martina, the little girl they're taking care of, and a girl named Clara and her mom. Both girls are profoundly retarded and wheelchair bound. Neither of them had a wheelchair until very recently when the Fickers turned up an adult sized wheelchair for Martina. Martina is 9 (more or less) so while the adult wheelchair was better than nothing, it still wasn't exactly optimum.

Neither girl could have tolerated the three hour drive from Canilla, so a 12 minute flight was infinitely better. Add this to the list of times that the airplane has been such an amazing blessing to us and the people of this area.

Matt picked up the group at the Quiche airstrip and drove them to Chichi (there is no airstrip in Chichi).

A team from the United States had come in to help out and it included a couple of physical therapists who were very helpful with Martina. They said that it really looked like she had gotten some very loving treatment, as evidenced by the soft condition of her burn scars. Without countless hours of massage and therapy, her type of scars usually contract so badly that movement is nearly impossible.

They said that it's really important that we get Martina on her feet, though, as the lack of weight bearing can cause a weakening of her bones and will eventually make them very brittle. They have a standing machine at their shop in Chimaltenango that they hope they'll be able to fit to Martina. Since she doesn't really travel very well, we're hoping that a few phone calls and some measurements will get her a machine that'll help.

In addition to a wheelchair for Martina and another for Clara, they presented Duane with another wheelchair, two walkers, some crutches, and a cane to be given out to those in need. It shouldn't take us long to unload those! There is a huge demand here for those things that we often take for granted in the U.S.

Below are some pics from the day.

The first is the group gathering to pray before the day started. The second show some people waiting patiently for their turn to be fitted. The desks are where people sign for their wheelchairs, get their pictures taken, and receive their free hygiene kits (many families here don't have washclothes, bath soap, or toothpaste).

The third and fourth pics are of Martina with the team of people who worked to get her fitted into her wheelchair. Some of you might recognize our translator at ASELSI, Cecy, who was with Martina all day, too.

The last picture is of Duane loading Clara into the airplane.

Tomorrow is another day off. Matt will meet with the builder to do some planning for the next steps in construction and Heidi will get ready for ASELSI on Thursday, Zona Reyna on Friday, and our normal weekend clinics.