After months of designing…planning…measuring…cutting…building…sewing…We
finally had the big walker/stander distribution.
It all started back in December when I got the idea of
making a PVC pipe walker for Rosemeldrine and a few other kiddos. I had purchased PVC pipe connectors in the
states & brought them in with me as I had heard it was hard to find
connectors in Haiti
(which I later found out was not true which ended up being a blessing). I was
blessed by having a team that came in and ended up helping me make a model back
in February. The first 2 we made were for Ti-Willy and Gildine. After seeing
them in their new walkers I quickly realized that so many of the Miriam Home
and outreach kiddos would benefit. I made a PVC Pipe walker/stander library to
keep at the Miriam
Center so that on the
spot we could fit a child and have the correct size for them to use. We can
have 4 kids at a time in a stander/walker.
We have been using the stander/walkers with the outreach
families for the past 3-4 months. They each had a number of the right size
walker and during outreach time we would build them a walker/stander so they
could practice standing and strengthen their legs. The outreach families got
really excited and loved seeing their children standing/weight-bearing through
their feet. Soon after I stared getting asked if they could have one at home. I
told them that that was my goal and I was working on making them each one for
at home. Over the months I got asked A LOT about when. I was excited when I
could finally tell them a date.
A LOT of work went into making 35 walkers/standers, seats
for on them, sewing 70 boppy pillow covers and cutting up enough old clothes
for stuffing for the pillows . I was able to hire 4 outreach mothers to help
get each of these pieces done. Ralph’s mom taught Biyonna’s mom how to sew
(something she wanted to learn) and together they sewed the walker seats. Ralph’s
mom cut and sewed the boppy pillows. Ralph’s mom and Rosemeldrine’s mom put the
snaps on the seats and Sydney’s
mother cut up all the old clothes to stuff the pillows. Over the months I had
many people help cut PVC pipe, glue the walkers together including Nicholson,
Johnson, Presidue, interns, mission staff, etc. LOTS and LOTS of time and love
went into building a custom walker for each family.
I set up the walker/stander distribution on Saturday June 7th
as the Kimmy’s House team would be there to help make the even run smoothly.
The day started at 8:00 AM with parents starting to bring their children. I had
set up the classroom with mattresses, pillows, lotion, vibrating brushes and a
movie. The Kimmy’s House team agreed to do respite care with the kids while I
worked with the families upstairs. I was a little nervous at first that the
parents would be ok with leaving their kids downstairs but after I explained
that everyone there has worked with special needs and I trust them and I know
they will take great care of their kids…then they were all good with it.
We all headed upstairs, where I had set up the chapel
benches in a circle. They all got to choose 2 boppy pillow covers to stuff with
old cut up clothes and then sew them shut. It was fun to sit back and watch all
these families fellowship together, help each other and get so excited about
helping make equipment that would help their children progress in their therapy
skills.
As they were finishing up the boppy pillows I gave them a
choice. They could go down & get their children and bring them up for Bible
Study or we could wait until after we finished Bible Study. Unanimously they
decided to wait to bring their kids upstairs till after. They were enjoying
their time of respite away from their children and knew their children were
being well taken care of.
Presidue held a quick business meeting to discuss a few
important issues that needed to be addressed while so many of the families were
together in one spot. We then had a wonderful time of worship together (bongo
drums, tambourines and all). I had the following youtube video typed out and
translated into Creole as an encouragement to these families. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83h64wYcxWc
Their were 5 of us who took turns readying
through the 14 points and the scriptures to back up each. I thought it would be
powerful but didn’t realize how thankful the parents would be to each get a
laminated copy in Creole with the scriptures typed out so they could go back
& reference it for encouragement.
They then all headed downstairs to get there children and
bring them upstairs to get fitted in their walker & make any adjustments
that needed to be made. 26 kids were fitted for their walkers. We put each of
the kids AFO’s, knee braces on and placed them into their walkers. Only a few
needed adjustments made. We made sure that each family knew the best way to
position their child and any child that needed extra support we provided the
necessary equipment.
We then shared a meal together. The kids had blended
spaghetti, crackers, cheese puffs and the parents had Pate and cookies. During
lunch I had a chance to sit down for a second and look around. My heart melted
as I looked around & saw smiles, laughter, talking, friendships being
deepened and HOPE.
When we were all done I had asked Kimmys House team if they
would be willing to split into groups & help the families carry the walkers
or their kids to their home or to the tap-tap station. Over half of the
families needed help getting to the tap-tap station so we all went & helped
one family down the hill and to the tap-tap which was a huge blessing to these
families. We ended up having to wait a good 20 minutes down at the tap-tap
station for a tap-tap to have room for everyone. I always gain a new level of appreciation for these parents
the more I get to walk in their shoes…I mean every week they walk to a tap-tap
station to come to outreach (who knows how far) then off-road an hour in the
back of a truck trying to balance themselves and hold onto their children (who
can be awkward to hold as is because of their disability). Then they carry them
a good 10 minutes up a big hill to the mission to outreach for 2 hours to turn
around and go home repeating the events to get here…WOW!!!
After we got all the families who needed transportation on
their way we split into groups and walked 6 families to their homes helping
carry their walkers and or their children and fellowshipping with them along
the way.
This day was definitely in my top favorite days in Haiti and
definitely on top for the best birthday thus far for me!!! So thankful for God
providing to make this day happen in so many ways. Now a few weeks out from the
event I am loving hearing how the families are enjoying their walkers/standers
in their homes and also seeing the walkers/standers during homevisits.
