Carol is two years old. She cannot walk, stand, or even sit up. Her head falls to the side if someone isn’t holding her. Her hands and feet are stiff. Her head is too small. And she weighs much less than she should.
Her smile is bright. Her eyes are beautiful. Her little sounds are like an infant’s. Her cries are real and heartbreaking. But her family loves her and is doing everything they can.
Her family is incredible, but burdened. Her mom works in Lima and has to stay there during the week. Her aunt takes care of her while her mom is away. She has two siblings and several cousins that live in the same hut as her. Her grandmother cannot hear or speak. She has an 11-year-old cousin named Pierina who has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Pierina still cries about the earthquake, and shares her fears about their lack of food. There are about 4 or 5 other kids who live there. They are trying to make ends meet, but are coming up short. The family is struggling.
My heart is broken for them. I have held Carol and prayed for her healing. She has laughed with us. She has been going to physical therapy in Lima twice a week. Over the last two weeks we have seen progress in her hand and arm movement. She is not as stiff anymore. She has gained a little weight from the PediaSure that the therapist recommended. There is hope for a future for this little girl.
But the family cannot afford the therapy, PediaSure, and food for themselves. They have the opportunity to get a brain scan and diagnosis for 800 Soles (about $275) and surgery on her hips/legs for 500 Soles (about $175) but they cannot afford it. There is so much that can be done to help this little girl, but the family is at a loss. They lost everything in the earthquake and have had to drain their savings. That savings was for Carol. For her brain scan and surgery.
Needless to say, this story is close to our hearts here, and we pray to see healing and restoration in this little girl’s life. We would love to be able to provide the money for her brain scan and hopefully the surgery once we find out what exactly is wrong. We will be going to Lima with Carol and her aunt tomorrow (Wednesday) to see what kind of therapy she is getting, and hopefully help speed up the entire process (white skin means faster service). And ultimately we are praying for Carol to walk and dance and sing for the Lord and rejoice in the healing He has provided her.
If this is something you would like to get involved in and help provide for, please click on this link, https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=peru07 and you can make a donation. If you do, please either email me at [email protected] or comment on this blog to let me know who you are and how much you gave so that AIM can allot this money to Carol and her family. Thank you so much, and I look forward to reporting back about the healing and restoration that we see God do!
