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!