Bus for 83 children in Guatemala with disabilities

Thanks to all the generous donations, the children from ADISA keep receiving medical attention from specialist doctors in Guatemala City. Every two weeks an average of eight children accompanied by their parents go to follow-up visits with specialist doctors. Also, the children keep going to the Special Education School and other public schools in Santiago Atitlan.

 During 2015 ADISA served 409 people with disabilities, of these, 155 boys and 152 girls under 18 years old. 

From the last group, 99 were children under 6 years old and according to each rehabilitation plan:

• They attended to diagnostic or follow-up visits to specialist doctors. And the diagnostic expenses were covered (tomography, MRI, X rays, etc.)
• They received medications, wheel chairs, prosthesis and hearing aid

We would like to share Francisco’s story with you. He’s one of the children that use the Bus service.

Francisco is a smart and happy kid who likes to play soccer. He lives in Santiago Atitlan, a small city on the shores of Lake Atitlan. He’s the seventh of eleven children, his dad passed away when he was very young.

Francisco goes to a public school near his house. He’s very social; his friends prefer to call him Chico (an affectionate nickname for the name Francisco). At home, he helps his mom by cutting firewood for the traditional stove.

Chico was born with congenital amputation affecting all of his limbs. ADISA’s staff elaborated an intervention plan for him. As part of this plan, he was taken to Guatemala City to a specialist doctor to be diagnosed. He used his first prosthesis at two-years-old, and with it he began to walk and play. Since then, each year he needs a new prosthesis to accommodate his growth.

Now he’s a boy who’s involved in his community. He’s able to do activities that seem impossible, like putting on his prosthesis or tying his shoes without help. He has self-confidence and defined goals. He wants to go college and have a career.