Rosemery’s Face Lit Up as She Received Her New Wheelchair
Maria and her eighteen-year-old daughter, Rosemery, live in the high-desert city of Arequipa in southern Peru. Because of her multiple disabilities, including severe scoliosis, Rosemery is both nonverbal and unable to walk. With no access to proper mobility equipment for her daughter, extended family support, or community help, Maria has always carried Rosemery wherever they go, held in place on her back by a cloth wrap.
In low and middle-income countries, most people who need wheelchairs—like Rosemery and Maria—must do without. This lack of mobility equipment, and other critical support, leaves parents and caregivers like Maria little choice but to compensate by manually transporting their children, despite the toll on takes on their own bodies.
New Mobility
Our Joni and Friends Wheels for the World™ team—including staff from our Georgia Area Ministry Office—met Maria and Rosemery when they arrived at our wheelchair distribution outreach held at a church in Arequipa. As usual, Maria carried Rosemery on her back.
At first Rosemery didn’t make much eye contact with the seating therapists and mechanics who assessed her needs to select the best wheelchair for her. But slowly her countenance and demeanor changed. And when she saw the pediatric wheelchair chosen to fit her, Rosemery’s grin revealed her excitement to try it out.
Because of the curve in her back from pronounced scoliosis, Rosemery and Maria had to wait for our mechanics to modify Rosemery’s wheelchair to prevent sliding and maximize comfort. At the same time the team created a seat pad to prevent potential pressure sores.
New Hope
As they waited for adjustments to the wheelchair, Maria and Rosemery talked with local volunteers from the church that hosted the outreach. After receiving a Bible and hearing the Gospel, they spent time in prayer lifting their specific needs up to God.
By the time our occupational therapists seated Rosemery properly in her tailored chair, her beaming face said it all. As they left the outreach site, Maria and Rosemery had gained the dignity that a wheelchair provides, as well as connection to a church community for ongoing support and encouragement in Christ.
Our Wheels for the World team served 180 people and their families at the outreach Rosemery and Maria attended, providing custom-fitted mobility equipment, and the hope of the Gospel.
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