Early Intervention for Children in Guatemala

In these last few months, from April to June, the Early Intervention program has performed 190 therapies, both at ADISA as well as in the participants’ homes.

We have continued offering monthly workshops, in which we have recently observed increased parent participation. During these last few months, in the cerebral palsy workshops, the parents are creating objects from recycled materials that they can use in therapy with their children at home. In these workshops, parents also learn the best exercises to stimulate their children. We have observed that the mothers enjoy the activity, as they have the opportunity to share their like experiences while making their materials.

This quarter, we want to share Séfora’s story. She was born in April of 2018 and, following the c-section, she was hospitalized for 20 days because as the doctors explained, she had head problems. In June of that same year, Séfora’s mother arrived at ADISA for the first time, looking for help because her daughter wasn't crying. ADISA referred her to a pediatrician in the capital but they were unable to perform the cardiology exam because they did not have the correct apparatus for underweight children. Therefore, she was referred to the health and nutrition center for a nutrition consult. When they learned that she only weighed 4 lbs, they decided to hospitalize her and she remained in the hospital for six weeks, until she reached her ideal weight.

Séfora has since been diagnosed with Down Syndrome, maintained her ideal weight, and joined the Early Intervention program. She enjoys the activities during therapy and her mother and sister often participate as well. Since she began at ADISA, she has achieved important advances. Now, she can roll over and return to the face-up position and she has even begun to crawl a little.