Diana’s Story

*Diana and her mother learn how to work together for transfers.*

Diana Marcela lives with her family in Punta Hermosa, a beach town south of Lima. We first met her in 2011, when she was about 7-years old, through a colleague who had lived in that area and knew her family. We met in her home and provided a wheelchair for her at that point, but there was limited possibility for local follow-up.

Fast forward to 2017, when Diana traveled 2 hours to Yancana Huasy with her mother and sister for replacement of her wheelchair; by then she was 13 and after 6 years she had completely outgrown it. At this visit she received full service follow-up that included not only a replacement wheelchair, but other therapy input as well. Through Yancana Huasy Diana’s mother had come to training classes and was already positioning her therapeutically at night using materials she had at home. They were augmented with a custom foam knee pillow to make supporting Diana’s legs in the middle easier. This was crucial because she already had hip problems that would worsen by lying with her legs both going in the same direction. We also learned that Diana’s mother had back pain made worse by lifting and carrying her daughter. As part of the clinic day, they learned a technique so that Diana can take part of her own weight and help with transfers instead of being lifted.

Diana went back to Punta Hermosa and carried on with wheelchair adjustments at Yancana Huasy in 2019. And in 2023 we had the pleasure of seeing her again as an 18-year-old. Her wheelchair was worn out and pandemic-related delays meant that she was overdue for a new one, but the mission was accomplished. She traveled to Yancana Huasy during the timespan that our team was there, and it was great to see how she has grown and thrived!