(Videos will be added to blog soon!)
This morning I met with Bethan (from Sense International, who travelled from London on Sunday) and Cecilia (Sense International Peru) and we took a taxi to the "hippy" area of Lima, Barranco. There we met project workers Jorge and Glidy, and travelled onto chorillos. We were so welcomed into the home of Mia by her mother. Mia is 18 months old and has Down's syndrome & glaucoma. The project visits Mia and many other families regularly. The effect the simple light ball had on Mia was amazing to see. And these sensory activities and toys are just some things which the projects are introducing. It may seem so basic, but touch and light reactions are just one of the many aspects that can help deafblind children develop.
We then went onto the home of Jose Luis, who at 21 years old is multi-disabled and bed-bound. Contracting meningitis at 9 months and with no treatment, Jose is hypertonic, and can hear but has very limited vision. His mother received no support until the Sense project found their case and intervened, meaning she was on her own in the situation for over 20 years. She has seen the benefits to her son's quality of life, with massage and respiraritory exercises, and described the help from Sense as being "from the angels".
Sense find cases by reaching out to other community groups and churches, and people there mention the families in need of help. Unfortunately in many situations it's clear that doctors have not followed up on diagnosis, abandon cases and families are left to deal with quite staggeringly difficult medical and social issues.
It's an incredible eye opening experience to see first hand just how the charity helps. And to know that the funds raised through Breaking Boundaries and Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation are supporting this work reiterates how everyone's support is so worthwhile.
If you have a few spare pennies, please donate here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MissChivers
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