Alejandro and Petronila Valle Bucú have four children, all boys. Oscar Armando, 13; Erick Noah, 8; Edgar Leonel, 7; and Hugo Geovani, 6. Alejandro, the father, solely supports the family. He works as a farmer in a coffee finca near the town. He earns about Q.35.00 per day (a little over $4). Like most parents in San Juan Alotenango, Alejandro has no education and cannot get a better job.
Currently the older children are in school. The two younger boys are special children. According to their mother the two were born healthy, but before one year of age both caught meningitis fever and the two were afflicted with physical paralysis. Edgar Leonel and Hugo Geovani have been treated only with physical therapy; Petronila carries them every Thursday to Guatemala City for rehabilitation, which is very difficult. They need and deserve better medical care.
Please email info@fromhousestohomes.org, or comment below, if you have any leads that could bring these boys better medical care.
There is a physical therapy group closer to them than the city. I will go through my files tomorrow and try to find the contact person.
I wonder if the boys have been splinted for hand and foot contractures, and are in corrective shoes?
Most PT exercises can be taught to a parent, and can be done from home. I wonder if the parents are paying for physical therapy?
Our orthotic pediatric staff can see them and fit them for corrective foot braces and hand braces in January, free of charge.
Any seizures?
Jody Greenlee, RN
There is physical therapy available in San Antonio Aguas Calientes, at the Municipal building, Luis Gordiano, a physical therapist connected with transiciones in antigua and being paid my the municipalidad of San Antonio. They can call Luci at the Transicones office in Antigua, 7832 4261 for more information on therapy and wheelchair, leg bracing needs at our clinics
john