Last fall, one of our staff members led a training in Ecuador, and an attendee commented,
“We are becoming familiar with far more than just the wheelchair’s mechanical assembly. It’s important to become acquainted with both the technical and the human aspect of how to treat the patient adequately and even how to adjust the wheelchair according to his needs so as to provide him with a better quality of life.”
In the last six weeks, a series of devastating earthquakes rocked Ecuador. More than 7,000 buildings have been destroyed. More than 26,000 people have been displaced, and more than 8,300 have been injured. There is no quick fix in the face of natural disasters. Deaths, injuries, lost livelihoods, insecurity, fear, grief and countless unknowns are part of a new reality for so many Ecuadorians.
Our partners in Ecuador are keeping us apprised of the conditions, and we are working in close conjunction with them to meet whatever needs we can. These situations remind us that this is one of the reasons Free Wheelchair Mission exists—to serve, to meet needs, to value and transform the lives of those who are living with disabilities in an inhospitable world.
Thank you for having a heart for the nations—a heart for Ecuador—and for believing the gift of mobility can change lives.
Blessings,
Don Schoendorfer
