Range Rider

M y trip to Lima, Peru with Wheels for the World is difficult to describe because of how much it changed me. Peru opened my eyes to a new culture and showed me how much need there is in the world, even in developed countries. We were in Peru to help as part of the Wheels for the World organization run by the Joni and Friends Team. The organization, founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, provides physical and spiritual assistance for those with limited mobility because of limited access to wheelchairs and mobility devices. As a future physical therapist, I was thrilled to be a part of this project. We started work at Villa El Salvador Baptist Church in Lima, where a large area was filled with approximately 100 wheelchairs and 70 other assistive devices. The reality of the experience finally began to set in – all of these chairs would be gone by tomorrow. You could feel the excitement in the air when the clinic opened. We served 92 patients over two days, ranging from toddlers to the elderly with a variety of diagnoses including cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury. Most patients had never received any form of assistive device; many of the children had been carried their entire lives. We performed seating evaluations for each patient to determine what kind of device and customizations would be required. While the devices were being customized, we performed physical therapy with the patients. I loved the joy on every patient’s face as they hugged, kissed, and thanked us for all that we had done. You could see in their eyes that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for them. We prayed with them and thanked God for bringing them to the site. We served 103 more individuals over two days at our second location, Vida Nueva Baptist Church. Although all of my patients made an impact on me, I will never forget the experience I had with one of my patients on the last day of clinic. He was a 12-year-old boy, who had contracted a stomach infection that traveled to his brain when he was only a year old. His mom traveled six hours to bring him to the Wheels for the World clinic. This child could not walk and had never received a wheelchair. His mother had carried him for all twelve years of his life. Due to his condition and lack of appropriate seating device, he exhibited severe kyphosis, which is when the back has a “C” shape. My teammate, Brittney Swanson, and I realized we had a large undertaking ahead of us, but we were excited because we knew that this appointment would make a huge difference in this family’s life. We knew God had placed this child in our clinic at just the right time. Allison Ball, from Arlington, TX, is a current student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at HSU and will graduate in December 2018. She plans to pursue a career in neuro-developmental pediatric physical therapy, which involves working with children between the ages of 0-21 who have physical and intellectual disabilities.” MISSION SPOTLIGHT A life-changing trip to Peru By ALLISON BALL (’18) 12 RANGE RIDER | FALL-WINTER 2017

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDQ1ODU=