The Wheelchair Project

We took the following pictures during the course of a wheelchair project.  We have left names out of these pictures but want our readers to know that each one of these people are remarkable individuals and deserve the highest respect in the world.

This man was stricken with polio as a child and has spent his life thus far crawling on his knees.  He is being interviewed, measured and prepared to receive a wheel chair.  What a remarkable difference in his life. 

This man was paralyzed in an accident.  He is learning how to get in and out of his wheel chair.

Wheel chair recipients learn how to use their wheel chairs. They don’t just hop in and go.  There are many types of wheel chairs but our projects specialize in only two kinds for adults.  We do not do children’s wheel chairs.  Depending on the specific need of the recipient there are three wheelers and four wheelers.   

This woman was born with scoliosis and then later was paralyzed from the waist down in an accident.  This is her first wheel chair.

Clinicians learn how to transport a recipient in and out of the wheel chairs.

Technicians learn how to custom build a wheel chair.  Any wheel chair is not better than no wheel chair, they must be specifically made for each recipient. 

Perhaps the most poignant of all for me personally was these two sisters.  The younger sister (in front) has been carrying her older sister on her back for over 30 years.  The younger was stricken with polio at age two.  Lovely ladies both, such an honor to be in their presence. 

This woman is adorable. Immaculate makeup and hair.  I could put my thumb and index finger around her wrists.  She loves to cook, sew and clean house.   She made the dresses that both she and her sister were wearing.   Amazing human spirits….both. 

This has to be one of the happiest moments of my mission.  The joy on the faces of this woman.  One so severely disfigured and that of her sister makes any small sacrifice on our part completely worthwhile.  Included in the picture is Marcia Dow wheel chair specialist who traveled from the USA to supervise the program and another sister of the other two ladies. 

Some of the professional team from the USA who donate their time to come and train the Congolese clinicians and technicians graduating from the training program.  The backs of their shirts read (in French) “Together we can make a difference”.  What a privilege to be a part of this remarkable project. 

Boxes of wheelchairs.

Testing their new wheels!

A joyful moment!