For the last several years we’ve held an annual wheelchair giveaway, but there are always people needing a wheelchair after the event. This year one of our newer patients at ASELSI a young boy with spina bifida, causing paralysis from the waist down, needed a wheelchair. At any other time, he would have needed to wait until the next year, but we happened to have an extra chair that seemed the perfect size. To help the family and learn more about his home situation, we decided we would deliver the chair to Bryan’s home. Our local rehabilitation promoter set it up for us.

As we turned off the main road into a narrowed road, I asked to make sure there would be enough room to turn my truck around. After some difficult situations in the mud this year, I am even more conscious about space and road conditions should it start raining. She assured me there would be, but as the road continued to narrow, I began to get nervous. I asked again. Once again the mother assured me all would be well, and when we reached the end of the road, literally, there was just enough space to turn around. As it looked like it could start raining and the last bit could be interesting if it was wet, I decided it might be best to turn the car around before we walked to the house.

A five-minute walk to the house turned into a twenty-minute walk, as it started to drizzle, making the path slippery. As we carefully chose our steps making our way down the winding descent to the home, I marveled at the fact the mother did this at least once a week with her son on her back. Even in the rain, she walked much faster than we did, without concerns of losing her balance. Shesita and the grandfather attempted to carry the chair together, but eventually he decided it would be best if he carried it himself. We all watched in amazement. He, too, walked faster than the rest of us.

Arriving at the house, the family graciously offered us some coffee. I love the hospitality of our families. It took no time to get Bryan set up in his chair. The whole family was thrilled, and they thanked us for all we were doing for them. They said they wished they could give us more but handed us a large sack of fresh apples from the trees. As we said our goodbyes, the grandfather followed us back to the main trail. He said he wished it could be more, but handed us some quetzals for the wheelchair.

As we walked back to the car, we marveled at all we had experienced. The lengths this family has gone to to bring Bryan to therapy each week, the support of the family, their hospitality, the way the family so easily moved through the mountain trails, and so much more. We are always thankful to share this times with the families we serve, along with the things they teach us.