Freeing a Family
The gift of mobility is freeing a family in Kenya—the family of a little boy named Ian.
When Ian was born, he did not cry.
He was admitted to a hospital for two weeks and diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which affects his mobility. After he was discharged, his mother, Lucy, took him home to their village in the rocky hills of Bomet County, Kenya.
Lucy, a single mother of two, has a hearing impairment. Living with a disability herself, Lucy relied on help from her own mother to help care for little Ian.
Ian, now seven years old, had no mobility aid to help him move about. He depended on his mother and his grandmother, and would need to be carried from place to place.
Lucy felt that she was focusing so much of her attention on being Ian's caregiver that her other son was being neglected. She would often feel guilty and overwhelmed, almost to the point of despair.
But life changed for their whole family when Ian received a new GEN_2 wheelchair from our local distribution partner, Tenwek Hospital.
Ian’s family and neighbors were overjoyed when he sat in his wheelchair for the first time. His newfound mobility allows Ian to go to school, church, and the playground at the marketplace to socialize with other kids after years of being largely confined to his home.
Ian with his brother, in front of their house.
The new wheelchair provides freedom not just to Ian, but also to Lucy, who can now focus more of her energy on earning a living and caring for both children.
The entire family has been impacted positively by the gift of mobility.
“I thank the donors for providing this wheelchair through Tenwek Hospital,” said Ian’s grandmother on behalf of the family. “Ian can now go to school and his mother no longer has to carry him. May God bless you.”
With your prayers and support, we have given freedom to nearly 1.4 million people like Ian—along with their families—in 94 countries worldwide.
Yet, there is still more work to be done. According to a recent update, the World Health Organization now estimates that 80 million people around the world will need wheelchairs as health conditions persist and the population ages.
Free Wheelchair Mission continues to strive for a world where everyone who needs a wheelchair has one—a goal that we can only reach with your continued prayers and support.
Would you consider giving someone the gift of mobility today?
