Zachary’s Crutches

Mon. Nov. 14, 2011

            I had carried my grandson’s out-grown “Canadian” crutches in the suitcase to Peru, hoping to meet the child who would walk – with the use of Zachary’s crutches.  It was our last day of outreach in Peru, and although many children had been helped with other disability equipment, none of them needed crutches.  I knew I needed to accept that I might not meet the child who received these crutches.  So I planned to simply leave them behind at the local therapy center for whoever might be able to use them in the future. 

            But on that last day of the outreach, I was thrilled when a therapist said to me “We have a child who may be able to use your grandson’s crutches.” 

            My desire was to bless a Peruvian child with the gift of mobility, and also to help my 12-year old grandson see God using his disability, and his out-grown equipment, to reach out and bless another child.

            I watched our mechanic work to loosen up connections on the old crutches to shorten them for Deysi.  The mechanic labored with those “frozen” crutches – until they were the right length for this little 9 year old girl.  I watched and snapped photos of the seating-specialist and the interpreter teaching her how to use the crutches, and of our mechanic demonstrating the use of a similar pair of crutches.  We were all excited to see Deysi take those challenging, beginning steps of independence.  I thanked God for answering the desire of my heart. 

            And when I arrived back in the U.S, I was once again blessed as I showed Zachary the photos.  He could see how God used his equipment to help little Deysi in distant Peru, to walk without needing to hold onto furniture.  And I prayed for both of these children – for Deysi experiencing a new sense of freedom in Peru, and for Zachary, seeing how God could use his disability to bless others.  What a sweet double-blessing for this grandmother on a mission trip!  “Thank you, Lord.”

           Written by Chris Fouser

Hope for a Mother

Micaela was brought to the event in Chulucanas by her pastor.  She brought her three-year-old daughter, Danna, who has cerebral palsy, for a wheelchair.  Jill took the little girl in her arms, and hugged her.  Although it looked as if she was playing with her, I knew that she was evaluating her muscle tone and abilities.  She told the mother that although a three-year-old didn't necessarily need a wheelchair yet, she would see what she could find.  We then prayed together as a team, asking the Lord to help us to find her the right chair.  It was the last day of the event, and Jill told me privately that she wasn't sure what to do, as what Danna really needed was a special pediatric chair, but the appropriate chair did not have front wheels.  She said that they would have to build up an adult chair in order to provide the support that this little 3-year-old needed.  (I could not conceive of the modifications that would be necessary!).

So, Jill picked up the little girl again and took her back to where the available wheelchairs were located.  She came back with a smile on her face, and told the mother that she had found just the right chair!  I asked Jill privately what had happened, and she said that between looking for the right chair the first and second times, someone turned a chair in, and the mechanics said that the front wheels could be used on this girl's chair!  

Since it would take a while for the mechanics to assemble the chair, we had some time to talk.  Micaela told me that she had 3 sons, two older than Danna and a little one just seven months old.  Then she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "why did my only daughter have to be born this way?"  I told her that God had a purpose for her daughter, and told her the story of Joni.  By that time we were preparing to work with another family, so I gave her a pamphlet about Joni's life.  When I looked over a bit later, she was reading it avidly.  

Although Danna could not speak, it looked like she was following what was going on.  So I encouraged her mom in some possible communication techniques.  I told her that she might be able to teach her some simple signs or she could get pictures of items that Danna could point to so that she could communicate her needs.  

It was a long day for Micaela and Danna,
but they left content.
(Their pastor is on the right).

When Richard brought out her wheelchair, it was beautiful!  But more than leaving with a wheelchair that fit her daughter, Micaela was able to leave with more hope in her heart! 

Hope for a Daughter

Edita, a 62 year-old-lady, was brought in by her daughter.  She had suffered a stroke more than a year before, and had been in bed since them.  Jill evaluated Edita, and also asked her daughter about how she hoped to use the chair.  She said it didn't matter that the chair was not foldable; she wanted to use it in the home, and to take her mother out for walks.  It was obvious that she loved her mother very much, and took very good care of her. Our team prayed together for God's guidance, and then Jill and the TJ went to look for an appropriate chair.  

They came back with a very nice wheelchair.    While TJ was making the adjustments, the daughter conversed more with Jill.  She said that she had asked the doctor if he thought her mother recognized her, or understood what she was saying, and the doctor told her that he didn't know.  She was happy that her mother had lived for a whole year after having the stroke; but the doctor told her there was no reason to celebrate; there was no hope, she couldn't do anything.  

After the adjustments, we seated Edita in the wheelchair.  This particular wheelchair also came with a tray that Jill attached.  She became more alert, and followed Jill with her eyes.  Then, as I was close to her, translating, she reached forward and grabbed my water bottle.  She then put her hand to her mouth, indicating that she wanted to drink water!  If that wasn't a clear indication that she does understand some things, and can communicate, even if she can't speak!  How wonderful to be able to give not only a wheelchair, but hope to a loving daughter!

The Wheelchair that Waited for Maria

In a room filled with 200 choices, how do you find the “right” wheelchair to meet the needs of your particular client? Yes, you measure for the right height and width and look for the needed adaptations, but how does the right wheelchair really get to the right person? There is only one answer… prayer and the guidance of God, the Holy Spirit.

On this, my second “Wheels for the World” trip as a PT seating specialist, I looked at all the wheelchairs as they were unwrapped, measured, and placed by their size or category. All hands were busy with this organizing task, and as I did my part in this task, one wheelchair caught my attention. It had a blue custom-molded seat back fashioned for someone with a severe scoliosis. It also had the ability to tilt in space and came with a black vinyl covered tray. Many times, throughout our distribution in Trujillo and Chulucanas, I walked past that wheelchair saying to myself, “I can’t wait to see who will get that chair!” And I did wait, as each day passed with no one being fitted in that wheelchair. At our last distribution day, when less than 50 wheelchairs remained as choices for the needed clients, the person the LORD had chosen to receive this special wheelchair came to be fitted.

Her name was Maria. She was 21 and had Cerebral Palsy and needed a chair that would allow her to lay back when needing to rest. We prayed together with Maria and her family for the LORD to guide us in choosing just the right chair to meet her needs. After prayer, the mechanic and I went to the wheelchair rooms and found only one wheelchair left that would meet Maria’s needs. The one the LORD had kept for Maria was the blue custom-molded seat back, with the ability to tilt in space, and came with a black vinyl covered tray.  With just a few adjustments it was made usable for Maria. On the last distribution day, the LORD provided just the right chair for Maria…that wheelchair that waited for Maria to come. We serve an amazing and merciful God who provides for all our needs!

Written by Tina Stalker