Our Week in Lima Complete

From the sunshine and cool temperatures of of Cuzco there is time at last to write a post about our final day in Lima. On Friday 7 children were scheduled including 1 returnee from earlier in the week. We were on a tighter schedule, to finish working by 4 PM and have our supplies and stuff out of the church by 5 PM so they could rearrange and start preparing for weekend liturgies. There were many wonderful moments as teenagers with severely compromised body shapes and painful dislocated hips were made comfortable through postural care and very specialized wheelchairs; other younger kids received their very first set of wheels and their parents learned about postural care to protect their body shape for the future. The photos below tell the story of some kids and the wonderful team who worked with them on Friday.

Alanis is supported by her father and Barb (St. Kate’s OT faculty member) while Sammie checks the fit of her seating system.

Alcira had outgrown her wheelchair and was so thrilled to be receiving a new one!

Tamara supports Matthias while Laura (OT student) takes measurements for his first wheelchair.

Sarah and Beth (OT students) and Kim (PT) consult on nuts and bolts.

Hayden is invaluable in the fabrication and repair shop.

Edward, PT from Yancana Huasy, works on a chair for a child.

Mary Beth (OT) and Jill (OT student) go at it with tools.

Dana is a new PT at Yancana Huasy and also helped a lot with translation.

Laura entertaining two of the many kids who wait for hours while a wheelchair is being adjusted and made perfect for a sibling, aunt or uncle.

Chris and Liz, (OTs) and Rufino – who can make or fix just about anything – at work on a chair for Jerson as he rests in his postural care supports on the mat.

Pam (PT) and Jenna (OT student) plan the finer points of a seating system.

Brandon (OT student) working on a wheelchair frame.

Placida first had the pleasure of sewing wonderful children’s clothes at home and now was able to give them to darling children in Lima!

After all that we were packed and ready to go, when we were summoned to another area of Yancana Huasy where they had set up a surprise 10th Anniversary fiesta for Eleanore’s Project! Complete with toasts, a cake and other tasty treats, we were caught totally off guard. It was immensely touching (Tamara’s tears were proof of that). The banner below included photos of our work together this year and such good wishes. Our hearts were full.

This banner greeted us at the surprise 10th Anniversary fiesta closing our week at Yancana Huasy.