WHEELCHAIRS ... 2 1/2 weeks worth

We train them how to do a proper assessment and measurement for a chair and how to teach the
wheelchair recipients to transfer from chair to bed, etc; go up curbs,
and across rough terrain;  how to go up stairs, down stairs, ramps. etc.   

It has been an interesting 2 1/2 weeks of wheelchair assessment training and health worker training.   We have brought in a new Hospital partner to work with in provisioning the LDS Charities wheelchairs in the Philippines.    The Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao, Northern Luzon, held 3 sets of 3 day training for a total of 51 assessors who are now WHO trained and can perform a basic assessment and prescribe the correct wheelchair.

The new assessors learn how to assemble
the wheelchairs and check out each part.

This is a special story.  (It may end up being featured in an
LDS Philanthropic video.)
  In 6th grade a 10 year old girl with Muscular Dystrophy
 received a specialized wheelchair from LDS Charities so that she could propel herself with her tiny atrophied legs.  
She has gone on to graduate
from high school, and then college with high honors.  
Today, it is 12 years later and she is gainfully employed and
is in her 2nd year of the Masters Degree program.  
She has lovingly taken care of her little
wheelchair  (she says that it is the love and light of her life).
It is about worn out, and she was fitted for a new chair this
past week.   I had the privelage to be her assessor and
was able to send her home in a new standard wheelchair
that she will use until we can
bring in a new specialized chair built just for her.    
 She told me that she is so
appreciative of the chair because it allows her to be
'differently abled' .  
 Notice that she does not say disabled.  She has
a light-up smile and a joy in her heart.  

This Filipino Barber came in with his
wife because she was at the point of giving
birth.   He was approached to come into
our assessment, and was fit to a new chair.

He was excited to be fit with a new All Terrain (Rough-Rider
Wheelchair).   You can see his old chair off to the side.   That is
a piece of board that he placed himself on.   He was born with
no legs.    He loved his new chair, and demonstrated his abilities
to maneuver and turn wheelies .... he went home with a
new born baby girl and a new LDS Charities Wheelchair.

This is Kristal Anne as she is placed
in her new 'temporary' chair.

This is a 78 year old man whom had suffered
a stroke.   Tharon was the assessor for this chair.

I not only assisted in training, but
also received my training certification.

Tharon also received his training
certification.   Next to him is Elder Dennis Smith,
who is the specialist over all of  the Wheelchair projects
in the Asian, African, and European Areas.  Dr. Jacinto
is the Rehabilitation Director for the Hospital, and Kenneth
Lee works with us in the Area Welfare office.

1st session of Training Graduates.

The participants in the training learn the
proper way to transfer patients from wheelchairs.

This young man was high functioning
Cerebral Palsied, and was very excited
to receive a wheelchair.

2nd session of Training Graduates.   They
include Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists,
Social Workers, LPNs, and trainers.

We took a break on Sunday and drove to Amalon (north from Tuguegarao) and attended a small ward there.  When Dennis Smith and his wife were serving in the Philippines as Humanitarian Missionaries, they worked in this area and started an amazing Member Welfare Project that blest the lives of over 80 member and non-member families by having the Church provide training, construction materials, seedlings, red worms for composting, and pigs to give these people the resources they needed to become Self sustaining.       We visited and witnessed the continued farming that they are doing - 6 years later.     What a blessing to meet these humble people who have been able to take their training to the next step in assisting others in their community.

A florishing garden. 

This is Elder Smith with the family that he worked along
side of to bless the lives of so many in this little community.

This is me during lunchtime when
I am very happy to find a banana to eat because
I don't want to eat the lunch.  

This is the type of lunch that I pass on.    The Filipino people
do not waste anything.    They bread the fish and then cut it in
half.    I got the head ....... just couldn't bring myself to even attempt
to eat it.       The longer I am here .... the pickier I am getting with
what I am willing to eat.   

3rd batch of Training Graduates.

We are visiting one of the Wheelchair partners
and check their storage area to verify the
security of the chairs.   Their last pickup of
wheelchairs was 85 from the Manila warehouse.

We actually got to sneak in a day to stop and visit the Member Welfare Project in
Tarlac.   We love this little family and like to check on the growth of the little piglets.   They had just
opened the door for the piglets to come to slosh breakfast ..... 18 happy, squeeling piglets running to get the
 best position in the feeding trough.

We also spent 1 full day in training Barangay Health Care
workers in regards to wheelchairs and how to identify
persons in their barangays who would quality for the
wheelchairs.  We taught maintenance, transferring, and
health cautions to be aware of.   These are our assessors in
this Province.

Elder Bell (Tharon) is overseeing the
assembly of one of the new 'Tricycle
Wheelchairs".   It is for those persons with
disabilities who have good upper body
strength and can utilize it for greater mobility
and even potentially use it in a self selling business.

This is one of the assessors who is trying out the tricycle before we introduce
it into the training.

This is a cool picture because it shows that they will do whatever it takes to transport goods/equipment
 across many kilometers for travel.     60+ wheelchairs were picked up this morning.  
This is one of the new Tricycle boxes being loaded into the School Bus sent down for the
 University of Northern Philippines pick-up.   They fit 15 into the seats of this bus.  
We just smile at the lengths that they go to make things work for them.

One last picture for the blog.    There are small businesses located throughout the Island of Luzon in which they have molds that they inject heavy plastic materials into and then create these 'statues' that they have for sell along the side of the road where their shops are set up.    These statues are about 9 feet in height.    I have 2 grandsons that would absolutely love their grandparents to bring one of these home to them to have in their own back yard.      I am afraid that it will not happen .... but this grandma would love to surprise their parents with this on the front doorstep! :)   :)   :)

Some days, I am a bit sad that we are not more involved with proselyting and teaching about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and in actual 'Missionary Work' or Member Leader Support.      But when I see the blessings of being a tiny part of being able to take mobility devices and get them into the lives of those people who are so poor and who desperately need them ..... it is humbling and very worthwhile .      Elder Bell and I are also very excited to be able to go to each Stake/District and teach them about the blessings of the Member Welfare Projects and explain how it can bless the lives of their members who are living so far below the poverty level.   There is a big learning curve and it is difficult because so many do not understand English very well (so many different dialects and languages) ..... but it is a labor of love.     We are refining our Power Point presentation .... and will have translators work with us to have the forms that they use to put the project together either in Tagalog or Ilocano.  

We love these people.   We have deep respect for their resilience and their love for the Savior.    Most of the Filipinos are Christian, and are very polite and respectful.