Pediatrics and The Onion

                                                                   Fabio is just beginning to walk on his own
One morning a week, I set off walking due north toward what has grown to be the highlight of my week: working with kids at the “Colegio Especial.” It’s a 25 minute walk with plenty of sights (and smells) along the way. I’m discovering more and more that the layout of urbanization here is sort of like an onion - at first glance, neat and pretty, but delve a few layers deep and you may be moved to tears quickly.

I’ve described the city of Trujillo in earlier posts, and at first glance it does seem glamorous and rich compared to where I live, but there are also many people living in poverty alongside the wealthier in the city. Similarly, my neighborhood in La Esperanza has a modern, nicer area around the highway, boasting pharmacies and internet cafes and banks. Walk a few blocks in any direction, though, and the scenery changes pretty quickly.

The same goes for my walk to the school each week. The homes and road conditions, clothing and hygiene, and access to amenities like regular water/plumbing and electricity diminish almost block by block. Some of the kids that attend the school sleep underneath tarps at night. Some don’t have access to a toilet. So, it’s no surprise that school attendance is poor, the kids are frequently ill, and the access to resources like medications and proper adaptive equipment are low.

                                                                                                   Ana Cristina is all smiles every day!

There are over 100 grade-school aged kids attending the school and the most common diagnoses are Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome. I was a little nervous about working there at first, as I had no pediatrics experience when I arrived, but I absolutely love the time I get to spend working with the kids. Right now the most frustrating aspects revolve around a lack of financial resources and appropriate care at home. Many of the kids we treat have severe spasticity and or/seizures, but the families can’t afford the appropriate medications. If a kid uses a wheelchair, it’s on loan from the school and it’s generally a very poor fit (as you can see in the pictures- sadly, this is how the kids arrive every single day). And, education aimed at the teachers and families/caregivers regarding home exercises, positioning, etc. generally seems to be ignored. It’s rather common to observe a caregiver other than a parent because in some cases, due to a general lack of cultural acceptance for disabilities, the kids are abandoned when they are born. Nonetheless, they are incredibly resilient and a joy to work with. I’ll try to post more pictures soon!