First Group & Lasting Memories..

 

The first group of children received temporary wheelchairs when they arrived at the Hope Haven facility on the afternoon 19 October. We quickly transported everyone over to the Mennonite camp where they would be staying for the next couple of days.

Helping Lucinda and her sister prepare dinner for the group.

Lots of goodies for the children!!

After a delicious dinner, we gave each child a blanket, a rain poncho, stuffed animal, and tooth brush and toothpaste. They were surprised and delighted.

It didn't take long for us to get to know the children and their mothers. What impressed me was how quickly mothers began to get to know each other and share their stories..

It really doesn't matter where you are in the world; mothers who have children with disabilities are often isolated. It is such a comfort to talk to another mother who understands, has similar challenges and hopes and dreams for their child.

 

The next day everyone was transported back to the Hope Haven facility. Physical Therapy students from the university in Guatemala were already working hard in the assembly area when we arrived. There were a few that I recognized from the clinics in March.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful little Blanca in her new wheelchair!

The children received their new wheelchairs and the mothers received wheelchair training. The more  independent children ventured outside of the seating area to try out their new chairs and play basketball.

Each chair is adjusted to meet the child's mobility and postural support needs. Some children required complex supportive seating because of postural deformities. Proper postural support provides comfort, improves function and helps to prevent future postural problems.  


I sat with each mother, and with the help of our skilled interpreter, Raul, I asked them questions about their child's diagnosis, whether or not they were attending school, the types of therapy their child was receiving, activities their child enjoyed, and what their hopes and dreams were for their child. It is important to learn about their history, their needs and goals for their children. The older more verbal children were able to share their hopes and dreams with me. One child wanted to learn how to fly; another wanted to be a secretary, and another wanted to be an interpreter. I spoke to them briefly about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Guatemala has signed and ratified) and their rights. I planted the seed. :)

What concerned me was that probably 90% of the mothers or more shared that their child was not attending school. Some mothers said their child went to a rehabilitation facility to receive therapy once or twice a week. On the USAID website it states, "only two of every five children finish sixth grade and just 19 percent of all high school-aged youth are in school in Guatemala."

How can we talk to children with disabilities about going to school when only a small percentage of the general population makes it though primary/elementary school and even less make it through middle school? What can we do to provide them with opportunities that will help them grow into responsible productive citizens of their countries? Giving them a wheelchair is step in the right direction that will hopefully open doors to opportunities that were not afforded before. 

The group receives wheelchair user training.



Stairs are always tricky!

That evening we made a makeshift movie theatre. I brought my laptop and small projector. Hope Haven supplied speakers and a white sheet on the wall served as the screen. I brought a few movies I thought they might enjoy (Disney's Frozen in Spanish was a big hit!).

It's difficult to imagine a child or mother who has never watched a movie. I think some of the mothers were enjoying the movie more than their children! Even today it warms my heart to remember the giggles and squeals of their children and their mothers!

 

The next day we loaded the wheelchairs on top of a chicken bus and we all went to the La Aurora Zoo in Guatemala city. What a day!!! The children had never visited a zoo before. They were mesmerized by the monkeys; amazed by the penguins, and loving every minute of it!!





Raul brought his funny face to the zoo!


 

Brad and little Blanca

Mothers :)

Loving her new chair!!!



Princess Hilda!!

Putting their wheelchair training to the test!

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Donations change the lives of children with disabilities all over the world. If 100 people donate just $20 each then 6-8 children will receive wheelchairs. Please visit Wheelchairs for Kids International and learn how you can make a difference; help a child go to school; play with their friends, and just be kids..

Visit: http://kidchairs4life.org/WFKIDonate.html






A Topsy Turvy Week Indeed!

Azwan and "Auntie Izzy"

The last week has been one of those topsy turvy weeks. I invited Azwan to stay with us for a few days. We went to the asylum office to check on his status, ate a nice lunch, and then went downtown to the National Air & Space Museum..

[Thank you to all the staff at the asylum office in Arlington, VA! We love you!! You were so patient and kind to us!!]






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Commander William "Willie" McCool - Pilot, Space Shuttle Columbia

One of the Air & Space exhibits includes a display honoring the lives lost in the space shuttle Columbia. I took a photo of the display because Commander William "Willie" McCool's information was included. I had the privilege of having lunch with his father, Barent, last year at a National Institutes of Health event. He gave me a detailed account of the day the shuttle broke up during re-entry and all of the amazing people who intervened to help him get to NASA and deal with the media.

Commander William C. McCool
1961-2003



Barent McCool unbuttoning his sleeve to
show me his Marine Corps tattoo!


Barent McCool is a fellow Marine who served during the Vietnam war. On Veterans Day, I thought of Barent, his military Service, and his son's. I will never forget his Service and his son's bravery. Semper Fi Barent!! God Bless You & Your Family!!!








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Azwan pointing to his home

There were lots of amazing exhibits at the Air & Space museum. My favorite activity at the museum is the planetarium. Azwan thoroughly enjoyed learning about the stars and planets but I think his favorite activity was in Moving Beyond Earth where there is a Google Earth station and visitors can explore earth, the moon or mars in an immersive interactive display.  With relative ease Azwan was able to drill down to find his home in the village he came from in northern Iraq. The technology was amazing!! I could see Azwan was thrilled to find his home but I couldn't help but feel sad that it may be several years before he can ever return to his village and see his family and friends again. As an immigrant myself, I understand the heartbreak that comes from leaving your home and people you are close to. I was fortunate that I came to the U.S. with my parents. Azwan is fortunate that technology allows him to speak often with his family via Skype but it's not the same. I know his mother worries about him but hopefully it will give her some peace of mind knowing that he has friends, like Brad and I, who are here to help him and care about him. 

Azwan is an amazing mature young man who will persevere and be successful in any endeavor. As a teenager, he assisted Brad with wheelchair distributions in Iraq and worked at an English school. I look forward to watching Azwan flourish in America. We are all praying that he will be granted asylum. Your thoughts and prayers would be appreciated!!

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CRPD Work..

On Veteran's Day, I presented at the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) annual conference with Dr. Patricia Morrissey and Andrea Shettle. Pat is the President of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities and Andrea is a program manager in the same organization.  The title of our presentation was "The Use of Social Media to Promote the Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities." Pat spoke about her very successful blog and book; Andrea addressed the USICD's social media efforts, and provided valuable social media tips; and I spoke about my CRPD Facebook page that has over 10, 670 Likes (demographics, lessons learned, etc). The room wasn't packed but the feedback we received was excellent. If you work in the disability field, or you're a parent or advocate, then I highly recommend the AUCD conference. Please contact me if you would like to receive a copy of our presentation. Your calls to your State Senators and to Senator Harry Reid asking for a Senate vote soon to ratify the CRPD would be appreciated!

Izzy and Dr. Shriver

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One last highlight from last week..

On November 13th, I finished work and drove to Politics & Prose bookstore in Washington, DC, to attend Dr. Timothy Shriver's book signing for his new book Fully Alive.  It was horribly cold outside and I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to drive in the dark to an unfamiliar area when it was raining. But, life is always an adventure, right?!

I got to the book signing before anyone had arrived, purchased 5 copies of the book, and went downstairs to enjoy a grilled cheese sammy, and a cup of coffee. I have the book on Kindle and had started reading it when it was released earlier in the week. I was working my way through chapter 4 in one of the hard copies I just purchased and was reading about his Aunt Rosemary who had a developmental disability and was the sister of President John F. Kennedy and Eunice Kennedy. I could understand why Rosemary influenced so many members of her family. I could relate because of how my own son has influenced so many..

I was also Tweeting about being at the event, sharing photos, quotes, etc. I included Tim as well as his brothers and sister in the Tweets because I knew they were probably excited for him and might appreciate reading tweets during the event. Some people retweeted and favorited some of my Tweets and Dr. Shriver was appreciative of the support.

I waited until the line was almost down to a couple of people and stood at the end of the line. The gentleman in front of me was distraught because he didn't have a copy of the book (the store had sold out) so I offered one my own copies. He insisted that I take money for the book but I told him it wasn't necessary. He finally pushed the money into my hand. He went on to tell me about his adult daughter who has cerebral palsy and how the Shrivers' impacted their lives. It was finally my turn to see Dr. Shriver. I never do well at meeting "celebrities." I've met quite a few and I always regret it afterwards because I get nervous and what spews out my mouth is never something noteworthy. When you meet someone who has given so much to improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities you want it to be noteworthy.  But, instead, I said, "You don't remember me do you?" He smiled and responded with a polite, "No." I reminded him about my interview with him last year for the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation Fellowship. I thought he might remember me because he took note of my Scottish accent.

[Side Note: I didn't get accepted for the Fellowship. During the interview I shared that I wanted to work on international disability rights and it wasn't a focus area for the fellowship that year.  I told myself that if God wanted me to be a Kennedy Fellow then it would've happened. I was obviously supposed to do something else instead that year. I prayed and trusted that God would show me the way and that's what finally led to my work with Wheelchairs for Kids International and the creation of the CRPD Facebook page. If I had received the Fellowship then I wouldn't have had the time to get involved with Wheelchairs for Kids International; I wouldn't have gone to Guatemala, and I wouldn't have gotten to know Azwan.]

I had books signed for my son and others but I couldn't bring myself to ask him to sign my own book. Weird, huh? I shared on Facebook that it felt like a selfish act. I did the same thing when I met President Obama a couple of times and the First Lady. I didn't ask for an autograph or a photo when everyone around me was. For me, it was a gift just having the experience and I will treasure the memory. But this time, I asked for a photograph, so that I could show my son who participates in Special Olympics.

Life often take unexpected twists and turns and can get a wee bit topsy turvy. Sometimes disappointments lead to something greater and beyond your wildest dreams. And, sometimes taking risks lead to wonderful adventures that help you on your path to understanding what it means to be "Fully Alive."

Receive your copy of Dr. Shriver's book from Amazon for less than $20. It makes a wonderful gift!! 

Lximche Mayan Ruins



Lximche Mayan Ruins

On our second day in Guatemala we traveled to the Lximche Mayan ruins located in the western highlands of Guatemala. I was quite excited because we didn't have the opportunity to visit any Mayan ruins in March. I wasn't disappointed. We hired a tour guide at the gate and we're glad we did as we all agreed that if we had skipped the tour guide then we would have walked around the grounds reading the placards and left in fifteen minutes.

The history of the Kaqchikel people sounded very similar to periods of history in North America and Europe--battles between clans, sacrificial practices, the Spanish conquest, people decimated by smallpox, etc.

Raul & Brad at the Lximche Ruins

Raul, Brad, Izzy, Bruce at the Lximche Ruins

Where the heads were chopped off...


 

 

 



Of course, we asked our guide if life for the Kaqchikel people was similar to the life of Mayans portrayed in the movie Apocalypto. He responded with a confident, "Yes." Like most movies, I imagine there were some liberties taken here and there with some of the historical facts and the level of brutality. Well, maybe not (see image caption to the right).

We often think about people like the Mayans as being primitive but when you compare their history to the history of the Spanish and the British during the same time period then they were equally as brutal, if not worse.. Remember the Spanish Inquisition--over 5,000 people died, the Tower of London, etc.?


On a lighter note, the Kaqchikel people hunted, planted crops, practiced the Maya religion, washed clothes, played sports, fell in love, held business meetings, told stories around fires, and enjoyed festivities. It would have been amazing to have seen Lximche in its former glory..

Brad meeting a new friend..

There was a Mayan ritual going on at the very back of the ruins, where the least of the royal families would have resided. We thought it was staged for tourists, however, we were wrong. There was a colorfully dressed Mayan Priest surrounded by local followers.  We couldn't hear or understand what he was saying (the Kaqchikel have their own language). Instead, we stood in the rear, quietly watching the Service and left early wondering what was going to be the sacrificial offering that day (I think it may have been a chicken).

After visiting the ruins we returned to Hope Haven and met the first group of mothers and children..






October 18th - Our Arrival

It's somewhat surreal when I think that just a couple of days ago we were driving on a dirt road on the side of a mountain in Guatemala trying to get to San Luis Jilotepeque to visit children who received our wheelchairs in March, 2014. It was an incredible trip and very different from the March distribution..

Our Arrival

Brad Blauser arrived in Guatemala City ahead of us although we were supposed to arrive 30 minutes earlier than him. Our flight from Miami had an mechanical issue and we had to switch to a new airplane. It all worked out in the end. Our new friend, Raul Porras, was there to meet us. I'll write more about Raul later because I want to share his story with you. I'll just say for now that he's a little younger than my father, his English is wonderful, he has a marvelous sparkle about him, and the gift of the gab.



The volcano is behind me

We decided to go straight to Antigua instead of going to the Hope Haven Guest House. We walked around Antigua, ate a delicious lunch at Monoloco and then Raul took us to a beautiful park that boasts an incredible view of the volcano, works of art, and other surprises.

I was a little nervous about holding this bird
because I had just been bitten by another bird.

I remember it was a challenge just getting to the house. We hiked to it with some of our suitcases because the road had partially washed out and we couldn't drive the large van over it without getting stuck. It was so dark I wasn't sure if it was a few feet to the house or half a mile. It was a relief that it wasn't very far at all. We were greeted immediately by our guard dog fur babies Dozier and Tank.

The next day we checked the road out as well as the tall corn stalks growing beside the road (Wow!).

Brad and Bruce sizing up the corn stalks

Raul, Bruce & Brad checking the ravine in the road





The plan for the day was for us to visit the Lximche Mayan ruins located in the western highlands of Guatemala and then meet the first group of children at the Hope Haven facility...
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Donations change the lives of children with disabilities all over the world. If 100 people donate just $20 each then 6-8 children will receive wheelchairs. Please visit Wheelchairs for Kids International and learn how you can make a difference; help a child go to school; play with their friends, and just be kids..

Visit: http://kidchairs4life.org/WFKIDonate.html



Wheelchairs for Kids International -- Heading Back to Guatemala!

Antigua, Guatemala

We're Getting Ready!

I'm heading back to Guatemala on 18 October. This time, my husband, Bruce, will be joining Wheelchairs for Kids International. Bruce has worked with parents and children with disabilities before. We ran a support group many years ago for parents with children with disabilities, and he was a Special Olympics coach for several sports prior to being deployed to Iraq. I'm excited to share photos and videos!! I know he will love Guatemala and meeting and working with the children and their families.



Packing to Go..

I began by asking our friends in Guatemala what they needed. The list was short-- reading glasses, blood pressure monitors, a laptop computer for a local school, and canes for the blind. We always take toys for the children, however, this time we're also bringing kids toothbrushes and toothpaste. We are partnering with Hope Haven Guatemala again and they have been expanding their operation to include a medical and dental clinic. I know our contributions will be appreciated.

I also bought a mosquito net and lots of bug repellant. This time I'm prepared!! Bug bites don't really bother me too much but I do worry about Dengue fever..

Our Plans..

We extended our trip to include a few days to visit with some of the children who received our pediatric wheelchairs in March. I was hoping to visit with little Juan, however, I just received news that his mother has taken him out of the malnutrition clinic. I have asked some friends from the region where he lives to help me find him. Your thoughts and prayers would be appreciated. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him.

I don't expect that we will do a lot of sightseeing on this trip. It would be a pleasant surprise if we did. I have heard we are taking the children to the zoo so that will be lots of fun. I'm taking my laptop and projector with me. I was thinking about having a movie night and showing some cartoon movies (in Spanish)-- the kiddies would love it!

We are also looking forward to seeing Mark & Matt Richard, Ilse Caballeros, Yulia, Blanka, Josue, Dr. William Sosa, Dick Rutgers, Rita & Geoff Doppenberg & everyone at Hope Haven Guatemala! It will be a grand reunion!

Donations Are Always Appreciated!

Thanks to all the generous people who donated funds for the wheelchairs for this trip! We can't do it without your support! A special thanks goes to all the children and helpers in Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Grapevine, TX! They all worked hard to raise $1402.29 for pediatric wheelchairs and they made some beautiful blankets for the children!


We're already half way to our next small distribution due to a fundraiser conducted by our new 2014-2015 Child Champion, Timothy Donovan. Timothy has raised $5,726 and his goal was $3,600! He wanted to raise enough to purchase 12 wheelchairs for his 12th birthday that was in September. He raised enough to fund 19 wheelchairs! Thanks Timothy!

Your Support is Needed & Appreciated!

Brad Blauser with Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)

We met so many helpful people from disability organizations this summer! Many thanks to everyone who made time for us in their busy schedules! It was a wonderful experience meeting Senator Harkin at the AAPD Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act event in Washington, D.C!

The last few months we have been busy trying to educate people about our important work and working to get more volunteers involved. Please e-mail me at Isabel.Hodge@KidChairs4Life.org if you would like to volunteer! We need volunteers to help with social media, web development, marketing and fundraising!

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Donations change the lives of children with disabilities all over the world. If 100 people donate just $20 each then 6-8 children will receive wheelchairs. Please visit Wheelchairs for Kids International and learn how you can make a difference; help a child go to school; play with their friends, and just be kids..

Visit: http://kidchairs4life.org/WFKIDonate.html

Would You Forego that Expensive Handbag to Give a Child a Wheelchair?

It has been an exciting few months!! I was asked to join the Board of Directors for Wheelchairs for Kids International and I accepted! My heart and energy was already fully committed to the organization so I didn't feel the overwhelming urge to jump in and start working on doing things that would help us achieve our goal; I was already doing that. But there was one thing I knew I had to do - get our CEO and Founder, Brad Blauser, to Washington, DC! We had to network with individuals and champions from the national and international disability community and ask them for guidance, and referrals to individuals that they thought could help us in our quest to help children with disabilities in developing countries. We decided that the week of the 24th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) would be the most opportune time to accomplish our networking goal and we were right.

Brad with Senator Harkin

Last week we attended The American Association of People with Disabilities' (AAPD) ADA Anniversary event on the rooftop of a building that overlooked the U.S. Capitol building and met some incredible advocates! It was exhilarating to be in the same space with them - people that helped draft U.S. laws that have changed the lives of Americans with disabilities. People who protested inside the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (now the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) to the get the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 passed and who participated in the Capitol Crawl in 1990 and yelled, "ADA NOW!" Because of their efforts, Americans with disabilities are free to have a name, have their birth registered, have rights as citizens, move around independently, and live and work in the community without discrimination. We have the same goals for individuals with disabilities in other countries. For us, it begins with giving a child a wheelchair so that they can get out of isolation, have the opportunity to go to school and lead productive lives. Without a chair, it is difficult to advocate for yourself and others

Yesterday, we met the friend-of-a-friend from overseas at the mall in Tysons Corner. The mall was huge and very overwhelming for me. I gravitated towards the tech stores and the outdoor adventure stores that had cool things that would make our lives more comfortable when traveling to distribute wheelchairs (e.g. mosquito nets). We walked through a department store and I saw a group of women practically drooling over some handbags. They loved them so much that they actually stood in a group and asked the sales women to take their photos with them. Crazy, huh?! After they left I walked over to the bags they were posing with and checked out the price tag-- $400!!! I wondered how long the bag would be used and thought about how quickly fashion changes and it would be tossed to the side and replaced with another bag that probably cost $400 or more. I wanted to lay a few of our business cards beside the bags and in the bags with hopes that perhaps they would find them and choose to give the gift of a child's wheelchair and change their lives instead of buying a bag that would only momentarily satisfy them. I knew the store would quickly scoop them up and throw them in the trash. I decided instead to take a photo of the bag and put it on Facebook along with statement.  I received so many positive comments that I decided to take it one step further and start a campaign...

If you are reading my blog then please take a moment copy the above image and post it on all of your social media outlets. You are welcome to share the link to my blog too. Just imagine how many wheelchairs we could give children if every woman made the choice today to forego buying an expensive handbag and instead chose to give the gift of $300 to cover the cost of a quality pediatric wheelchair that will help a child achieve independence for years to come.

Please help me make my message go viral!!

Visit http://www.KidChairs4Life.org and donate!

All About Brad

I'm glad I went on the mission to Guatemala with Wheelchairs for Kids International. It was a life-changing experience. I'm ready to go again even although it has been several weeks already since we returned.

There's an amazing thing that happens when you watch a child smile from ear-to-ear because they finally have a set of wheels that will drastically change their lives-- the neighborhood kids think they're super cool, they're now independent and free from the isolation that many children with disabilities experience.

My prayers these days are for (1) Juan, and (2) for the Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities to pass in the U.S. Senate this year, and (3) for USAID, other U.S. companies and foundations (e.g. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and  international human rights organizations to realize that it won't do any good for countries to create curb cuts and make their buildings accessible if their kids and adults don't have access to wheelchairs. Funding non-profits like Wheelchairs for Kids International is one of the first steps the U.S. should take when they finally do ratify. We can help countries all day long by sharing our knowledge and experience but we won't be helping anyone with physical disabilities in developing countries if they can't get a wheelchair first. We can do this..
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Brad Blauser



Brad Blauser in Antigua, Guatemala

Before I actually met Brad we had talked on the phone and chatted online about his non-profit. I knew he was a good man because of his work in Iraq providing wheelchairs to children. And, I knew he was a risk-taker because he went to Iraq as a contractor. 

You're probably wondering why I'm writing about him? Why was getting to know him important?

If I was a potential donor then I would want to know about the non-profit, it's history, and it's founder and executive director. Is this an entrepreneur who invests a little time and effort into something and then hands it over? I've seen plenty of those come and go! Or, it is a passionate advocate who works night and day to make a difference? I also want to know if the money donated will actually go to children with disabilities who need wheelchairs or will most of it go towards administrative costs, hired expensive professional fundraisers and marketing?

Brad falls in the latter category -- he's a passionate advocate. You have to respect a man who witnesses or hears about an injustice and takes action. This is one of the characteristics of an advocate -- you have the experience, you cry/pray/meditate, and you give 100% of your time, expertise, and energy (even if it takes years) toward fixing it. It's how I got started as an advocate and why I'm still working on issues that were important to me 20 years ago. You don't give up. You may need to make some adjustments but you stay the course.

Will your donations go towards purchasing and providing pediatric wheelchairs? Absolutely.



Brad spoke a lot about his experiences in Iraq as a contractor and also about the wheelchair distributions and special children and families that he met that I could tell meant lot to him. His life was changed by the experience. He could've easily have arranged for the wheelchairs to be brought over and just given them to the local authorities but he wanted to make sure they got to the Iraqi children. He risked his life to make sure that happened. Iraq was a dangerous place. You couldn't give advance notice that you were going to a town to do a seating clinic because the enemy would know and plan to bomb or ambush the distribution. Seating clinics had to be conducted quickly because news spread fast. How many  advocates can say they risked their life to make sure a child received what they needed? I know I can't. This is why Brad was nominated as the 2009 CNN Hero.

I think I made a friend for life when I met Brad. He's one of the people I'd want in my life raft or my fox hole. He has all the principles and values that I respect -- honor (personal integrity), courage, and commitment. It's never about him and always about the children. God chose well when he picked Brad, and his Mum (a Southern Gem!) must've done one heck of a job raising him to be such a wonderful compassionate person.

Please consider donating and volunteering a little of your time towards helping Wheelchairs for Kids International provide wheelchairs for children with disabilities who spend their life on the floor crawling or being carried.



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Donations change the lives of children with disabilities all over the world. If 100 people donate just $20 each then 6-8 children will receive wheelchairs. Please visit Wheelchairs for Kids International and learn how you can make a difference; help a child go to school; play with their friends, and just be kids..

Visit: http://kidchairs4life.org/WFKIDonate.html