New arrivals at Pasitos this year
It is always heartwarming to see new children arrive at Casa Connor, being helped off the bus for the first day of classes and therapies in their own special Castillo (Castle). Many are wide-eyed and excited, others nervous because it is their first time away from their parents. The important thing is that their journey towards an improved quality of life has officially begun!
Since COVID restrictions were relaxed in this part of Mexico, we have been able to start integrating new kids from our waiting list. This is fantastic news for parents, desperate for their son or daughter to start their therapies. Many parents are also desperate to go out to work, to make ends meet for their families. This is particularly urgent for single moms, who are the sole bread winners in their households.
We would like to share a couple of stories of new arrivals at Pasitos de Luz, whom we are pleased to say are now benefiting from the care and support that will help them thrive.
Azahara
Little Azahara, pictured above with her mom Araceli, was born in June 2021 and is just 11 months old. She was born with Microcephaly, a birth defect which means that her head is smaller than expected and her brain has not developed properly.
Azahara faces a number of challenges and a difficult road ahead. Her condition means that she has experienced developmental delay. She has not reached the milestones normal for babies her age, such as getting to a sitting position by herself or being able to sit without support. Despite these challenges, our physiotherapists are confident that they can help Azahara to reach these milestones and grow up fit and healthy.
aura is an experienced physiotherapist who has been working with Azahara for just over two months, three times a week. She has been pleased with the little girl’s progress. “One of the first things I wanted to help Azahara achieve was to start crawling and to roll over. I placed her on the therapy mat and surrounded her with different coloured objects. The colours grabbed her attention and she started to reach out and move towards them. Within a couple of weeks she was crawling! Her mom Araceli had the biggest smile when she saw her daughter moving freely on the mat for the first time”.
What is next for Azahara? Laura says that over the next few weeks she will use a balancing ball to help Azahara develop the strength in her trunk to sit up by herself. At the same time, she will encourage the little girl to build up strength in her hands and start grabbing objects. Slowly but surely Azahara will reach those all-important milestones, which will be a huge relief for Araceli.
Araceli is a single mom who is also relieved that she can now go out to work while Azahara is cared for at Pasitos.
Brothers Samuel and Leo
There are two little boys who had been on our waiting list for almost a year and a half before they started their first day at Pasitos just over a month ago. Samuel is 4 years old and his older brother Leo is 5. Both have Down Syndrome, while Samuel has several other severe health conditions.
Their parents, Liliana and Pedro, were absolutely thrilled when we got in touch to tell them the good news that their boys could finally be enrolled at Pasitos de Luz. Liliana sells tamales in the evenings, while Pedro is a driver at a hotel. They are both on low incomes, which makes their case a priority one for us. We are so pleased that we were now able to include Samuel and Leo in receiving our specialized services that they so desperately need.
Samuel (pictured above) is a gregarious little boy who loves his food and playing with toy cars and cuddly bears. Healthwise, though, he hasn’t had it easy at all.
Gerardo, a nurse who is at Pasitos on his placement year, explains Samuel’s medical history. “Samuel was born with a birth defect known as Imperforate Anus” he tells us, “which means that the opening to his anus is missing. Shortly after birth he underwent an ostomy. Surgeons created an opening in his abdomen to allow waste and urine to leave his body through a tube, where it is collected in a small external bag, which has to be changed every 24 hours. On top of this, Samuel contracted pneumonia when he was 2 years old. He has trouble breathing and suffers from a bad cough. Combined with the physical and intellectual limitations caused by having Down Syndrome, Samuel’s is a complex case.”
We care for Samuel in our nursery. Caregivers, such as Gerardo, make sure that his ostomy bag is cleaned regularly and changed when necessary. They also keep a close eye on his waste, to spot any possible infections. Samuel has a big appetite and eats well at Casa Connor, which helps him fight infections. And finally, we make sure that he enjoys plenty of play time, to keep his spirits up.
Leo is Samuel’s older brother. He also has Down Syndrome, but other than that he is a healthy, active little boy. The major challenge posed by Leo is his behaviour. He struggles to pay attention in the classroom. Our Special Education teachers have been working with Leo by helping him focus his attention and by setting clear boundaries, while also giving him enough freedom to explore his creativity.
We are glad to be able to support Samuel and Leo, aware of the great help it is to their family. Having two little boys with disabilities is a significant burden, especially when one suffers from complex health issues. Liliana and Pedro describe the teachers and caregivers who look after their sons as “angels”.