Inspirational Stories
Here are some highlighted stories about children who have benefited from the SWM standing frame. Thank you for your part in adding smiles to this page!
2017
Dulce Andrea Culajuj Chumil
Age: 5
Condition: Cerebral Palsy
Donated Equipment: Verticalizer # 485
Date of Donation: October 13, 2017
Place: Department of Sololá
Andrea is a 5-year-old girl with Cerebral Palsy who is characterized as a beautiful girl who always smiles, which transcends her communication barrier. Her speech is difficult to understand but is more understood by her mother and his family. She was born in the Hospital de Sololá in which at birth she was hospitalized for a month for observation. This incurred many expenses to the family and for this reason, the father migrated to the city where they currently live. The father of Dulce is dedicated to agriculture and planting cabbage which is marketed in the markets. Because he does not own the land, he is a day laborer and earns a low salary which is not enough for all the expenses that the family comes to have for the rehabilitation of Dulce. The standing frame that was donated in October, 2017 will help improve not only the quality of life of Dulce but also the families economic situation because they will not have to travel as often to the distant rehabilitation center, Funda Bien, saving time for her parent to work more as well cost of frequent therapy appointments for standing therapy. Her mother says that that it is much more comfortable to do it at home because Dulce feels much better and she can be as long as she I needs to without an appointment running out of time and has been of much benefit to her health. “We thank Stand With Me for such a valuable donation”, say the parents. ​
Ashley Ruiz
DIAGNOSIS: microcephaly, Spastic cerebral palsy
 
Ashley Maria is 4 years old. She was born was diagnosed with microcephaly at birth. 3 months after she was born, she started to have seizures for a year and a half, then they discovered that she had spastic cerebral palsy.
 
Currently, Ashley receives therapies and medical attention. The best way to communicate with her is verbally. She lives with her parents and her mother is a housewife and her father works for a local company. Ashley's parents are grateful for the donated standing frame as it is a great help for their daughter and has significantly improved her quality of life.
 
The goal for her the parents is that with the standing frame and the therapies required, Ashley will manage to improve day by day and that someday she may be able to walk.
Gabriela Rodriguez
​Date of birth: October 24, 2016
Donation date: November 16, 2017
Sponsored: Stand With Me
 
“Gabrielita” as her mother calls her a girl expected by her parents was born normal. The mother tells that two months after her birth she realized that something is not normal and decided to take Gabrielita to a doctor and the doctor immediately said that she had symptoms that were not normal for a girl of her age. So he decided to refer her to a hospital. Upon admission, she was admitted to the hospital and prescribed tests of all kinds to detect her illness and treat it. It was a period of two weeks in the hospital and she was eventually diagnosed with Convulsive Syndrome. Then he left the hospital with the medication for his convulsions, but after a few days she relapsed again and this caused her to stop breathing. This respiratory arrest caused Gabriela to lose brain cells every time epilepsy occurred.
 
As a result of this condition, she started going to Funda Bien (rehabilitation hospital) in which she began her rehabilitation in January 2018 two to three times a week. The mother tells us that now with the standing frame that was donated in November 2017. She started her rehabilitation therapy in her own home. “It is a blessing to have this rehabilitation device and the comfort of having it at home”, says the mother. Gabriela's father is a worker in a belt factory where they provide him with work to be able to contribute financially to his family. The father tells us that it has been a constant struggle but that he trusts God a lot and that he will provide what they need. He thanks Stand With Me for donating the standing frame and says that it “motivates us to continue working for the needy”.
2016
Matti Manzo
​Mathew André Menéndez Manzo is 3 years old. He lives in Guatemala City with his mother and grandmother. On September 11th of 2015 Mathew received a standing frame from Stand with me project.
Mathew was born with spina bifida. Ligia, his mother searched for ways to help him with medical care and supportive devices to improve his quality of life.  Thanks to Stand with Me, this kind of help was not denied and Mathew continues progressing, learning and enjoying day to day life.
With the standing frame he has become more independent with activities of daily living that before were difficult and required assistance.  Someone used to have to hold him in order for him to grab toys, clothes and other stuff around.  As he continues with other therapies and stimulations will continue gaining strength, balance and coordination. His attitude is positive and is able to communicate verbally losing his shyness; the whole family is thankful and happy for the progress.  
 
Ligia said: “Matti has gained strength in the legs and the way lives is different now, he communicates more enabling us to share new experiences that we enjoy. Yes, now we see that he is cheerful! The standing frame arrived in good time, it has helped him and us a lot. Thank you very much for taking into account my son.”