Here's a little story about what we did this weekend!

For the second year in a row, we were the grateful recipients of a shipment of pediatric wheelchairs, walkers and other such things, sent to us from Hope Haven International Ministries. The arrival of these chairs was accompanied by a group of 11 volunteers that had traveled from the United States to Peru to seat the children who would receive the chairs.  

The volunteers arrived in Cusco Saturday morning, having traveled all night from the States through the Peruvian capital of Lima.  After settling into the hotel, they had a quick tour of the pediatric rehabilitation centre where the distribution would take place (Hogar Clinica San Juan de Dios) and were able to see previous donations being used first hand. The distribution coincided with the centre's Telethon, which meant that the volunteers were also able to partake in local food, song and dance..   

Racing through the halls; two young girls benefit from the walkers donated by Hope Haven last year.

Local children perform typical dances at the centre's telethon

After visiting the centre, we sent the volunteers off to tour the Incan ruins of Sacsayhuaman, as we awaited the arrival of the truck delivering the wheelchairs and other equipment from Lima. The equipment was scheduled to arrive by noon, giving us plenty of time to unload and get organized for the 2 pm distribution.  However, in typical Peruvian style, things weren't meant to go so smoothly.

 Noon came and went and parents started arriving from far off villages, carrying their children by any means possible. The truck still hadn't arrived. So, the volunteers began by adjusting the wheelchairs which we had donated to children at the pediatric rehabilitation centre the previous year, as many of the kids had grown considerably and were no longer properly seated. 

By 2, the truck still hadn't appeared and parents waited patiently with their children. I must thank all the families for their patience, as they waited without complaint while their children grew tired and hungry. We did what we could to keep them busy and happy, but it was growing late. I have to say, I don't think we would have had such a patient group in North America!

It was almost 5 o'clock when the truck finally arrived. Having been delayed in a small town several hours away (they had closed the road for construction), the driver had had to pay the construction workers to make room and let him through. Volunteers, parents and other locals all got to work unloading the truck and getting things ready.

It took another four and half hours to seat 20 children in appropriate wheelchairs. And, although everyone involved was absolutely exhausted by the time the day came to an end, the families were elated with the chairs and the new support and independence these offered the children and the family as a whole. Everybody went home very happy. 

Luis with his mom when they arrived

Luis and his mom leave with his new chair.

Our smallest recipient of the day. 

Our biggest recipient of the day.

Just a few of the other children who received their first (much needed) wheelchair.

The next day the volunteers were up early for a trip to the infamous Incan ruins of Machu Picchu. But our work was not yet done. We still had more chairs to distribute, in addition to walkers and crutches. Here is just one touching story from the last group of devices we distributed.

Congreso

News