Sunday, July 30, 2006
The Children of Huambalo
In an earlier post, Heather spoke of the drive, determination, and mutual caring among the people of Huambalo and Mimi said, "This is a place to search one's mind set of family, education, disability, independence, and life in general." Indeed these statements are true for me, too... and nowhere is the drive, determination, and mutual caring more evident than in the example of Miguel, his sister, Paula, and the other chilren of Huamblo.
Miguel, aged 11, has cerebral palsy, but it does not seem to slow him down much. He is the most independent kid with his level of disability that I have EVER seen... absolutely amazing! Part of that is due to the relationship between him and his siblings, especially his younger sister, Paula, aged 9. Miguel speaks only a few words and cannot walk independently, so when he wants to move from one place to another, he either walks along leaning back on the wall or raises his left arm. When he raises his left arm, Paula comes to stand close beside him. He puts his arm around her shoulder and off they go. If Paula is not nearby or is busy, any other kid who happens to be close by does the same. Miguel is NEVER left out and is never just an observer. He is an active participant in every activity! It is one of the most incredible examples of caring collaboration I have ever witnessed.
An example of Miguel´s participative and active spirit occurred yesterday after lunch when several of the students were playing on the slide right outside of the eating area. Miguel indicated to his godfather, who had joined us for lunch, that he wanted to slide, too. As his godfather walked him over to the slide, Stacy - a talented and thoughtful young OT who is one of my great hopes for the future of the AT field - and I slipped into place on either side of the slide, knowing from our experience that if Miguel were able to slide at all, it would take many hands and much careful attention. As his godfather approached the ladder, Miguel reached out and grasped it. Much to Stacy´s and my surprise, his godfather smiled and said to us, "Don´t help him because he wants to do it himself," and walked away, returning to his work.
With Diego, a wonderfully gentle giant who is also a student at the school, standing attentively behind him (and Stacy and I trying to look unconcerned but VERY attentive and at the ready!)Miguel, arms and legs flying in all directions, climbed unsteadily up the ladder, paused on his belly at the landing to rearrange his arms and legs into a seated "slide" position, and slid right down. At the bottom, he scooted off the slide, and, steadying himself with the side of the slide, worked his way back to the ladder to begin the whole thing again! Stacy and I gasped, cheered, and stood in awe of his determination, adaptability, perseverance, overlayed by a child´s enthusiasm for living. If there were a single word for all that, it would be "Miguel!"
I am amazed and humbled by how Miguel, Paula, and the other children use their gifts and somewhat disheartened by what appear to be limited opportunities for them to broaden and share those gifts as they grow older.
Miguel, aged 11, has cerebral palsy, but it does not seem to slow him down much. He is the most independent kid with his level of disability that I have EVER seen... absolutely amazing! Part of that is due to the relationship between him and his siblings, especially his younger sister, Paula, aged 9. Miguel speaks only a few words and cannot walk independently, so when he wants to move from one place to another, he either walks along leaning back on the wall or raises his left arm. When he raises his left arm, Paula comes to stand close beside him. He puts his arm around her shoulder and off they go. If Paula is not nearby or is busy, any other kid who happens to be close by does the same. Miguel is NEVER left out and is never just an observer. He is an active participant in every activity! It is one of the most incredible examples of caring collaboration I have ever witnessed.
An example of Miguel´s participative and active spirit occurred yesterday after lunch when several of the students were playing on the slide right outside of the eating area. Miguel indicated to his godfather, who had joined us for lunch, that he wanted to slide, too. As his godfather walked him over to the slide, Stacy - a talented and thoughtful young OT who is one of my great hopes for the future of the AT field - and I slipped into place on either side of the slide, knowing from our experience that if Miguel were able to slide at all, it would take many hands and much careful attention. As his godfather approached the ladder, Miguel reached out and grasped it. Much to Stacy´s and my surprise, his godfather smiled and said to us, "Don´t help him because he wants to do it himself," and walked away, returning to his work.
With Diego, a wonderfully gentle giant who is also a student at the school, standing attentively behind him (and Stacy and I trying to look unconcerned but VERY attentive and at the ready!)Miguel, arms and legs flying in all directions, climbed unsteadily up the ladder, paused on his belly at the landing to rearrange his arms and legs into a seated "slide" position, and slid right down. At the bottom, he scooted off the slide, and, steadying himself with the side of the slide, worked his way back to the ladder to begin the whole thing again! Stacy and I gasped, cheered, and stood in awe of his determination, adaptability, perseverance, overlayed by a child´s enthusiasm for living. If there were a single word for all that, it would be "Miguel!"
I am amazed and humbled by how Miguel, Paula, and the other children use their gifts and somewhat disheartened by what appear to be limited opportunities for them to broaden and share those gifts as they grow older.
