Santiago joined the GOT Ministries caseload in the fall of 2017. When he first came to see us, the tension in his muscles did not allow him much range of mobility. He did not play with toys or interact with people. Through occupational therapy with GOT Ministries, Santiago gained range of movement and began to reach out for toys. He started feeding himself and he and his family began to learn to use his wheelchair. Not too long after GOT Ministries started working with Santiago, his family's home burned down. The family has struggled to regain their home over the past year. Additionally, the father has been out of work recently. Making sure Santiago receives the nutrition he needs is challenging. He is in a nutrition center right now to help with this challenge. To be away from his family is hard, but we are grateful he is receiving the nutrition he needs to grow and develop. We are also excited to hear the family may be able to build a new home soon! Thank you so much to all of our supporters!!
YOU make this work possible and YOU make a difference in the lives of the children and families in Guatemala!! Please join us in empowering and serving children with disabilities in Guatemala by becoming a therapy sponsor today!!
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Megan and Abigail met Calixto at 18 months old through a referral from a missionary in Santa Maria de Jesus. Born cross-eyed, he was unable to see at birth and had spent a lot of time on his back. The mission organization funded a neurology appointment for him and GOT began serving him and his family through occupational therapy. His vision is improving, as well as his potential for development. He likes bright lights and began reaching out and kicking more! Today we celebrate because Calixto is WALKING!!! After just a few months of therapy and encouragement for his family, Calixto is developing and leaning into his potential. Excited about Calixto's potential, his mom implements therapy techniques learned in his sessions with Abigail in the home! Calixto began walking and is moving forward in his development. The smile on his mom's face reminds us of the reason we serve these families. We love to see hope shine through. GOT Ministries is so excited for this little boy and his family!! Thank you so much to all of our supporters!!
YOU make this work possible and YOU make a difference in the lives of the children and families in Guatemala!! Please join us in empowering and serving children with disabilities in Guatemala by becoming a therapy sponsor today!! Megan and Abigail met Chulo through a referral from a current GOT family. Born unable to move his head and neck, his mother was told he would not grow up well. Because of this discouragement, she struggled to have hope in her child's future and hid him from his family and friends for the first four months of his life. She was unable to name him, so we called him Chulo, which means sweetie or cutie in Guatemalan Spanish. Chulo spent much of his first four months on his back, hampering his development and growth. He and his mom struggled to bond because the situation appeared hopeless. Today we celebrate! Chulo has a name!! We would like you to meet Gerson Alexander!! Megan and Abigail support this family through occupational therapy, allowing Gerson to now be able to move his head and experience developmental growth! Gerson and his mom know his potential for growth is great. More importantly, the family knows they are loved and supported and empowered in the journey of Gerson’s growth and development. Gerson and his momma are able to bond and spend quality time together. We are so excited to continue in this journey with Gerson and are currently encouraging his momma to register his birth so he is officially recognized by the government. Thank you for your support of GOT Ministries!!
YOU make this work possible and we are so very grateful for YOU. Become a therapy sponsor and empower and serve a child like Gerson today!!! GOT Ministries has had the privilege to work with Alvaro for three months this year though the job skills program created and implemented by our doctorate level Occupational Therapy student, Admeth. Alvaro is a 4th grader who enjoys playing with friends, eating bean sandwiches during recess, and learning in school. When we first met him, Alvaro had difficulty making eye-contact and had little confidence in himself to participate during the job skills workshop groups. He has had surgery in the past to remove a brain tumor, and has slowly but surely overcome obstacles, and has since been thriving. In the last few months, news arrived that doctors have found a second tumor growing in his brain, and deemed it too dangerous to conduct a second surgery. Alvaro does not let his medical situation hinder him on a daily basis. During therapy he demonstrates great progress and now has the utmost confidence and straightforward attitude that allows him to engage and participate in the workshops. He takes advantage of every moment by engaging with his peers and playing soccer every chance he gets. Alvar has achieved his therapy goal of increased self-awareness and self-confidence since beginning therapy three months ago. Now, Alvaro is the first person to start any task and does not allow mistakes hinder him, but uses those experiences to grow from them. Alvaro is a strong emotional child that is going to blossom into a smart young man, who will be able to tackle any challenge.
Please consider sponsoring continued therapy services for children like sweet Alvaro, so we can continue to give him hope and teach job skills that supports independence and future success. Click below to sponsor therapy for a child. Santiago is a gentle and handsome 5 year old boy with cerebral palsy who has received 6 months of therapy along with his older sister Rosario. His major challenges have been controlling his head when sitting, engaging with toys, bearing weight in his legs, and connecting with his mother. He is a strong little boy, and has been making such progress with his positioning, has been engaging with musical toys while standing with support, holds his head up well, and has been searching for his mom when she talks to him. Santiago has the best giggle when Admeth played the drums for him, and he loves looking around when his mama carries him through the market. We are thankful for the privilege to work with Santiago and his mother to give hope, encourage the mom to complete therapy in home, and to share with his family how amazing he is, because the Lord loves him. To sponsor therapy services for children like Santiago, to make progress possible for him and his family, please click the button below. Our sweet friend Rosario is 7 years old, and has been receiving services from GOT Ministries since September 2017. When we first met Rosario, she would not respond to anything or anyone in her environment, screamed frequently, bit and hit her siblings and mother, and went potty on the floor 4 times during our visit. It was apparent that she had little to no previous experience with other people, and may not be treated very well in the home. We have had so much fun getting to know Rosario since September of last year. Three additional months of therapy with our doctorate student, Admeth, Rosario has grown and learned SO MUCH!!!! We are so proud of how far she and her mother have come. Now, Rosario is able to play ball back and forth, sit on the potty (we are currently working on a bathroom routine), play with toys while sitting at a table, giggle when enjoying a game, follow commands from her mother, and respond to her name being called. Rosario has even learned how to be gentle with her younger brother Santiago. She loves popping bubbles, and spinning in circles. We hope to serve her again when GOT Ministries returns to Santa Maria de Jesus in September 2018.
Please consider sponsoring 3 more months of therapy for this sweet girl by clicking the button below. Junior and his family are a blessingLittle Junior is 3 years old and one of the most adorable tiny humans GOT Ministries gets to work with. We invite you to IMAGINE THE IMPACT we could have in this family He has cerebral palsy, and crosses his legs and extends his whole body when trying to engage with his environment, because it's the only part of his body that he can somewhat control. We work with Junior to provide an opportunity for his body to experience different positions and engage with his environment. We do this through stretches, as well as activities for supporting weight on his hands/elbows and knees to prepare him for future crawling. Even though this is hard work for Junior by the end of the visits, he makes gurgling noises and cuddles into our side. We are intentional about communicating with the mom regarding what we are doing, why, and the importance of integrating the therapy in the home. This is important so that Junior can experience other positions daily, which are important for eating, crawling and hopefully someday walking. Through occupational therapy, Junior and so many other kiddos can experience and participate in the world with a higher level of independence. Junior has shown some significant gains since we began working with him in May of 2017. His mother has been so great to work with, and thankful for the opportunity to learn more about how to help her son engage with his environment. **In order to have the impact that we desire in this family, we want.... -to encourage Junior's mother, Marta Lidia, in ways to help her son -to support the family system and educate on the value that Junior has with his different abilities -to teach the family about Junior's seizures, and how to respond appropriately, as well as the importance of medical care -to help Junior grow and develop his potential We seek to provide consistent therapy services for Junior and his family, in order to share hope and love for them, and to support Juniors growth and independence in the future. Please consider partnering with us to serve little blessings like Junior. If you would like to sponsor therapy services for Junior, click below to be a THERAPY SPONSOR. |
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