This story comes from Whitney, our International Operations Manager. Whitney just returned from a visit with distribution partner in Costa Rica.  Here is but one of her stories:

Catalina and Jorge are full of life and laughter. We met them in San Jose at the Caipad Fundadis Guadalupe. This is a center for people with disabilities. There are over 30 children and adults there who get opportunities to learn and grow. Catalina is 30 years old and has a charm and wit about her I just adore. She had the whole room rolling with laughter as she told stories of her morning breakfast.

Jorge loves life. He sat in his wheelchair and just wanted to clap for everyone as he appreciated so much all of his teachers and friends. Their joy for the life they have been given was a humbling experience that brought tears to my eyes and I realized how incredibly blessed I am, and how often I forget to enjoy the journey of life and the blessings God has given me. I am so grateful for Catalina and Jorge and am blessed to have met them. 

This message comes from our good friends at Operation Blessing in Peru: 

After the tragic car accident, Alexander did not feel his arms or legs and could not stop trembling. “The first time I was hospitalized, I was there for a month and the second time more than two months. The accident resulted in two broken vertebrae. I cannot walk, and the result has led me to be in bed until today,” he says.

Alexander was the main provider for his large family as his five sisters stayed at home to care for their children. “When the accident happened no one claimed responsibility. The money we earned with any work we did it was just enough to eat. The therapies were necessary for his recovery but we could not get more money to afford them,” his sister tells us.

The donation department of Operation Blessing used FWM’s a new model GEN_2 wheelchair. According to Paola, “The benefits are greater: safety, comfort and above all there are orthopedic adjustments to facilitate the recovery of the patients. Alexander was among the first beneficiaries of this new model. We went to Alexander’s humble home and we made the final adjustments to the wheelchair so it would be just right for him.” 

“Thanks for everything, it is a great help, now we don’t have to carry Alexander all the time. When we were at the hospital we had to wait in long lines just to borrow a wheelchair so Alexander could see a  doctor ... We'll never have to go through that again,” said his sister.

"I know this is only a test in life and I will overcome it. For my family, and for myself, I thank you for everything,” said Alexander.

This story comes right from our own team in Port au Prince, Haiti.

A mission trip to Haiti made up of Free Wheelchair Mission supporters and friends is now in Port-au-Prince and working side-by-side with our distribution partner Operation Blessing International. The group of six, led by long time volunteer and supporter, Bill Rice (photo: left), arrived in the Dominican Republic on May 21st and drove across the border into Haiti on the 22nd where they are now busy assembling and distributing wheelchairs. Their trip has not been without a few surprises along the way – for one, the container of wheelchairs they were scheduled to meet and distribute was held up at the border and did not make it across in time, due to changes in import requirements. 

However, thankfully, FWM partner Operation Blessing International had just cleared a container of wheelchairs this week as well, and the FWM mission group was invited to join the people of OBI in assembling and distributing wheelchairs Thursday and Friday. 

Also on the trip, photographers Jason Carr and Krystof Andres are accompanying the mission; the two are volunteering their time and paying their own way, not only assisting with the wheelchair distributions, but lending their talents to FWM by documenting the trip and providing quality high definition footage of the mission trip. The videos Jason and Krystof create will help spread the word about the ongoing need in Haiti, and inform supporters of the FWM mission to providing Haitians with thousands more wheelchairs over the next several years.

If you are a regular reader of our Friday Wheelchair Story you may remember one about Wellsburg Middle school in Wellsburg, West Virginia. It was two years ago. This photo may refresh your memory:

Notice the flags with the Free Wheelchair Mission logo (2008).

Diane Rasz teaches sixth grade there. In 2008 she spearheaded a campaign for the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders. They had bake sales. The students gave up their snack money. They sold tickets for ice cream sundaes. The teachers chipped in with a luncheon. In the end they raised enough for 50 wheelchairs!

Well, that was two years ago. On May 4 of this year, I made a surprise visit to Wellsburg, where the school presented us with a rather large and generous check! Diane was at it again, though this time she set the bar even higher. Here is a portion of the story National Public Radio’s West Virginia subsidiary:

“A fundraiser at Wellsburg Middle School in Brooke County last week raised more than $12,000. Students and staff held raffles, organized bake sales and promoted other activities. Eighth grader Cassidy Bland used her allowance money and did extra chores to help buy a wheelchair. She said a recent gymnastics injury changed the way she looked at the program.

‘When I messed up my leg, I could’t walk whatsoever. I tried everything - crawling and multiple things - but I was just thankful I had crutches and a wheelchair. So seeing these people could have something if we put a little effort in and raised some money, then maybe they would be able to walk to and not have to crawl,’ said Bland.

Here I am with Diane and her son Aleksey.

A wonderful friend of Free Wheelchair Mission, Dell Fuller, travelled recently to Kenya and Tanzania, sharing the mission, learning more about wheelchairs distributed and programs supported, and documenting the amazing people he was able to meet. Now our FWM Global Program Representative, Dell returned with the inspirational story of Jordan Jospha Kilonga, a 30-year-old man from Tanzania:

Jordan got Polio as a child and has not had the use of his legs for most of his 30 years. He is from Iringa, a city in central Tanzania located on the main highway which links the country of Zambia to the south with the capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam. I met Jordan in Mbeya, Tanzania. He is a student at the Iyunga Catholic Vocational Training School for the disabled in Mbeya, Tanzania. 

Jordan received his Free Wheelchair Mission wheelchair from the Catholic Vocational Training School, which in turn had received the wheelchair through the coordinating efforts of Herman Longo and his Unity for Diversity Foundation, FWM’s distribution partner in Tanzania. Solely through the tireless efforts of Herman Longo, UDF has created a highly functional relationship with a variety of social welfare networks to bring aid and comfort to the disabled population of Tanzania. The central government of Tanzania, the Catholic Church, organizations for the disabled, orphan organizations and various NGO’s have been brought together by Herman Longo and UDF to distribute FWM wheelchairs to those in need. In Photo: Herman Longo, Jordan Kilongo and Dell Fuller 

Jordan said that the wheelchair has been a salvation, giving him a new independence, enabling him to travel 3 kilometers each way between his residence and the vocational school.  Jordan is learning sewing and the skills necessary for making clothing. He told me that he felt truly blessed to have received his wheelchair which has given him the opportunity to attend the Vocational Training School. He is very much looking forward to returning to his home in Iringa to rejoin family and friends and embark on a new career in making clothing as well as enjoy the blessing of mobility with his new wheelchair. He is thankful to all who made this possible.

This story comes from Marion, a local supporter who travelled with us to Chile a few weeks ago for a wheelchair distribution:

Amelia has arthritis in her hips. Three years ago, she could walk a little—but not now. She got a GEN_1 wheelchair four years ago and really used it a lot. She went everywhere, to the hospital and daily to the farmers’ market. From the worn tires, we figure she must have put on a couple hundred miles at least.

When she was healthy, she raised her grandchildren. Now her granddaughter comes to help her. Her husband died leaving her very poor. She never thought she would have a wheelchair.

Amelia was delighted with the new GEN_2 chair. The first thing she did was give thanks to God, “Because His love fixes the world,” she said proudly. She commented on how fancy the new GEN_2 is and joked, “With this new wheelchair I am bound to find myself a man.”

The recent earthquake also affected Amelia. Part of her roof fell in. She was embarrassed and did not want us to see inside her home. She has kept her sense of humor. She said, “Everyone was so serious after the earthquake, but you have to laugh too.”

Amelia prays that we will always have good health and the Lord will bless us. She said, “God is so big. He is so powerful. He’s always answering prayers.” When Steven, our Chilean distribution partner, told her she was sitting in God’s hands in the chair, she said, “I know this is true, because without this wheelchair I couldn’t do anything.”

This story is about our very first satellite office. It’s in Wheeling, West Virginia, on the National Road, one of the first highways built in the USA. The following is a quotation from the February 26, 2010 edition of the Wheeling News - Register:

“Volunteers for the Free Wheelchair Mission in the Ohio Valley have raised more than $450,000 so far to provide kit-assembled wheelchairs to people in developing nations.”

Prior to having this office, volunteers for FWM met at various churches and restaurants around the community to organize fundraisers and raise awareness. Wendy Scatterday, our first Ohio Valley Coordinator said, “I hope the new office will help FWM increase its presence in the community. I hope it captures their hearts the way it has captured ours.”

FWM has found a local partner in the “Be the Blessing” campaign, an initiative started by Chris and Kristy Figaretti. Chris, a pastor at the Vineyard Church in Wheeling, and his wife Kristy began this campaign as their family mission statement. It ended up growing into the effort to turn Ohio Valley into “the kindness community on the planet.”

In addition to urging residents to practice kindness in their everyday lives, the campaign also set a goal of raising $1 million for FWM. According to Chris, “It is one of the best expressions of ‘Being the Blessing’ that I have seen. My thought is that everyone should change someone’s life once, and giving a wheelchair is a perfect opportunity to do that.” 

Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes! Let me share with you the story of Ruby, one of Free Wheelchair Mission’s youngest supporters:

Little Ruby lives in Georgetown, Texas, a small community just outside Austin.  Just five years old, she is the granddaughter of a friend of FWM. After hearing her grandmother talking about wheelchairs and sharing the mission, Ruby took it upon herself to begin collecting coins she found laying around the house. When asked why, Ruby answered, “I’m saving to buy a wheelchair for Free Wheelchair Mission.”  

Ruby’s mom agreed that this was a worthy cause so she set up a chore and reward system for Ruby to earn money to buy a wheelchair. It worked so well that they decided to share the news at Ruby’s school, the Tiger Pre-K Class. The excitement grew and the class took the challenge, using their spring break to work together and see how many wheelchairs they could buy. 

Ruby’s mom encouraged the other parents to give their children ownership of the project, encouraging them to be creative about how they would raise the money to provide the gift of mobility. 

At the end of two weeks, this class of four and five year olds earned enough money to purchase four wheelchairs! Four lives around the world will be transformed because of one preschooler’s compassionate heart, and the efforts that reached into the community, inspiring others to give. 

As for her classmates, those twelve little ones from the Tiger Class in Georgetown, Texas will also have changed hearts, forever, thanks to the efforts of Ruby, FWM’s littlest ambassador. 

Friday Wheelchair Story: Matilde's World Expands Again

I am writing to you today from Chile. We are here with our friends and distribution partners, Steven and Grace Colon of the FEDES foundation, working through the second field test of the Gen_2, FWM’s second generation of wheelchair design. I wanted to share with you an experience from the last few days with a woman called Matilde:

Once upon a time, Matilde did something that expanded the world for her neighborhood. She and her husband owned the first color TV on the block, and they used to invite all the local families to come over to watch. Kids and parents gathered around to view images from all around the globe, and Matilde and her husband enjoyed the chance to share this window to the world.

That was then and this is now. Matilde’s husband has passed away. They had no children of their own, and she lives all by herself. Now 87 years old, like so many of the elderly in Chile, she has no resources to fall back on.

Matilde`s life has become smaller, and her world has shrunk to the inside of her home. She has arthritis and an ulcer in her knee, restricting her movement. Last year, she took a bad fall and was unable to move or get help. Her dog made such a racket that eventually a neighbor investigated and found her there on the floor. Now suffering with a broken hip, Matilde’s world became even more restricted. She has a walker but she struggles to get by. A neighbor is kind enough to come by occasionally, to make her a cup of tea and help her to bed. 

Last Tuesday, the Colons and I brought Matilde a brand new wheelchair. The wheelchair will help her move around inside her home and will make it easier for neighbors to take her outside. Once again, Matilde’s world has expanded, which is why she says she thanks to God for us and why we thank God for all of you who help provide the gift of mobility.

Friday Wheelchair Story: A Wheelchair for Valentina

Straight from the Ukraine, this story comes from our partners in the region, Operation Blessing and the Association Emmanuel.

Valentina is 78 years old.She is wearing a nice dress with a delicate, flowery print. Her hair, which has but a little gray at the temples, is combed and neat. Today is different, special.

The Ukrainian government issues a certificate to people if they qualify for a wheelchair, but this is often meaningless as no one has wheelchairs to give. It has been a long time since Valentina has needed her documents, so it takes her some time to find them.

“Is the wheelchair comfortable?” we ask.

“It’s very comfortable.” she says. A pleased look comes over her face as she rests in the chair. Then, she starts to cry and wipes a tear with the back of her hand.

“Would you like to go outside now?” we ask.

“Only if somebody helps me.” she replies.

Valentina’s right leg was wounded during World War II. In 1961, she broke an ankle, and then she lost sensitivity in both legs. Though she had surgery, it helped only for a while. The doctor told her it would hurt when she was older. “And he was right,” Valentina says. She uses a cane, but it is impossible for her to walk. She used to be able to go downstairs. That was five years ago.

“When was the last time you were outside of your apartment?” we ask.

“It’s difficult to remember. Maybe a year or two years ago.”

Valentina is still crying as our team leaves.

She calls out, “I am so thankful. Thank you so much.” 

• It was a HUGE WEEK for deliveries!
• 1 container to Costa Rica
• 1 container to Senegal
• 2 containers to Pakistan
• 2 containers to Vietnam
• 6 containers to China

Friday Wheelchair Story:  Visitors from America who Care so Much

Recently our Events Coordinator, Ashley Herron, returned from a two-week distribution trip to Vietnam. She had so many amazing stories about her work with our partners in the region and the courageous people she met; for today’s Friday Story, I asked Ashley to share a follow-up visit she made to the village of Nha Trang to visit with Hong, a young lady who received a wheelchair during a previous distribution back in September 2007:  

We made it easily to the second distribution site in Nha Trang, but to get to the home where Hong lives with her mother, we have to go up a steep and winding road too narrow for vehicles for about three minutes. Water and sewage flow down the middle as barefoot children run up and down. As we walk by, heads peek out of the many houses lining the street, curious about the pack of foreigners roaming about the neighborhood. Reaching the top of the road, we turn off onto a small foot path which is even more narrow and steep. The home has greatly improved since the photos I have seen of the last visit; where there was once only a dirt floor and ramshackle walls, there are now solid walls and a concrete floor – everything looks neat and clean.

When we enter into her home, Hong is lying in a hammock next to her wheelchair. The wheelchair is by her side, at the ready to give her the mobility and access to her community that she craves.  Through a translator, Hong tells us a little about her life, and how every Sunday, she travels in her wheelchair down the hill, across the street and around the corner to the local church. She says this is her favorite time of the week. As we continue to chat and take photos, Hong’s smile grows wider and wider. She claps her hands and laughs, joyful for the gift of a wheelchair and for the visitors from America who care so much about her.

I was so blessed by my travels to Vietnam this March. Hong’s story illustrated for me not only the reality of the whole new world that a wheelchair opens to each recipient, but also the depth of joy it brings to their spirits. I will never forget her. 
- Ashley Herron, Events Coordinator, FWM

This week marked the end of another fiscal year here at Free Wheelchair Mission. During one of the more difficult economies in recent memory, thanks to the steadfast support of our friends and a variety of stringent measures put into place, we were able to ship out more wheelchairs this year than last despite reduced revenues, sending 149 containers around the world. That’s over 82,000 lives changed, over 82,000 people touched. People like Hong, who can now leave her home to go to church, to get out into the world, to join the human experience. 

You are a part of this journey. It has been another amazing year, among many. When I think of what has been accomplished, all I can say is “thank God.”  We are ever blessed, and ever grateful.

• 1 container arrived for Comoros
• 1 container arrived for Chile