Gratefulness

Hola amigos!

Again, I apologize for the delay in communication. The stories below are from our time in Pachacutec on Wednesday.

We traveled to a private PT clinic where the current therapists were there to keep the day running smoothly as well as learn as much as they could. The SRU PT students were again paired with a PT for the day. We were able to see a total of 24 patients so that made for a busy day. 

Children came with mothers or fathers or siblings and some waited in line all day to be seen. Each day, children come with a variety of conditions. Cerebral palsy and spina bifida seemed to be the the top diagnoses today. Cerebral palsy is a result of incorrect development or damage to the brain before or after birth. Spina bifida is a result of a folic acid deficiency of the mother during pregnancy that results in defects to the embryo. Both pathologies can present in a variety of ways making each child unique, but also making each experience an exceptional memory.

Erin, Estephanie and I

The first girl we saw was 11 years old. She had spina bifida, leaving her with an incomplete ability to use her legs to walk (ie: incomplete spinal cord lesion at L2/3). She used a wheel chair as her primary mode of transportation, but it did not fit her well and it was simply a transport chair, meaning someone else had to push her.
Although this girl could stand and walk with assistance for exercise, she really needed the assistance of a wheel chair to be independent at home and interacting with friends. I wish i could have captured the smile on her face when we sat her in this new chair. It was priceless. Not only did it fit her and make her exceptionally more comfortable, but she could push herself. It was incredible and such a blessing to be a part of.

It was also in that moment that I realized more of what it means to be grateful. A wheel chair for this girl seems so simple, but it actually changed her life. There are times throughout my day that God is teaching me. He is teaching me to be patient or be kind or be grateful and it is times like these that I need to stop and realize who He is and what He has given us. We serve a God that is worthy of all of our praise.

This week certainly has been wonderful. God is here and He is good.

Kristin Eberhart