Carabao's and Wheelchairs

5/19/10

We were very excited to go to the Carabao Festival and Parade. I have included two pictures, one of the parade route and another of a carabao pulling a cart before the parade. We got there early and stationed ourselves by the church where the carabao decorated with flowers are trained to kneel for the priest to give them a blessing. Unfortunately it was not to be, while we were waiting in 105 degree temperature Dennis starting to have symptoms of a heat stroke, with headache, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness. I was able to guide him to a courtyard in the church where he drank water and rested until he was able to go to the car and air conditioning. It was very scary for us because it came on so fast with no warning. Now we are being very careful with the sun and keep hydrated.

This week we are concentrating on wheelchairs. Our goal this year is to provide 2,000 for people who would not be able to afford wheelchairs. That is not as easy because you just can't plunk a person in any old chair. They need to be fitted, or it will not be as useful. About 50% of our children in need of chairs have cerebral palsy, and they need a specialized chair. I'll also include some wheelchair pictures. One is a 12 year old CP boy who we are measuring for a chair. He is really skinny but still big for his Mom to lug around all day. It makes me happy to be able to provide for these families, and they are so grateful. It is probably not so cheap in the US but here you can get a decent chair for just a little over $100, a really fancy one with all the braces and attachments to support a non mobile severely handicapped person is less than $300. Still these poor people will carry and struggle with their loved ones because $100 is way beyond their reach. It is so satisfying when you know you are helping individuals.