Mario needs help with new prosethics.

Eleven years ago, when Mario was just 16, he had an accident while working as a gardener in a private house. He was trimming a tree when he accidentally touched a charged cable and was severely electrocuted on the right side of his body. He was taken to the hospital, where they had to amputate part of his right arm and leg. He spent a long time in hospital recovering, and he was forced to stop working and going to school because of the injuries and all of the surgeries that he needed. When he finally returned home, he focused on getting better.

Because his family is very poor, he was able to get physical therapy from an organization for a reduced price. He went as much as he could afford--usually three or four times a week.

The physical therapy sessions helped me a great deal, but he spent the year following his release from the hospital on crutches. Prosthetic arms and legs are prohibitively expensive in Guatemala, even for families that are well off. For Mario and his family the limbs were an impossible dream. However, one day a medical team arrived from the United States, and happened to visit the clinic where Mario was getting physical therapy. They decided to help Mario out, using contacts and fundraising and they were able to raise the money to get Mario a prosthetic arm and leg.

The prosthetics have been invaluable to Mario. With them, he is able to lead as normal a life as possible. He has even returned to school with the help of a Mayan Families sponsor, and he is now completing his final year of high school--an accomplishment that only 7.9% of kids in the state of Solola achieve.

Prosthetics are generally expected to have a lifespan of 3 years. Mario has been using these prosthetics for 10 years now, and are starting to fall apart...

To read Mario's story or to help him, please visit:

http://familyaidprogram.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-prosthetics-needed.html

or

http://mayanfamiliesconnectionguatemala.blogspot.com/2011/04/mario-needs-new-prosthetics-for-his-arm.html

Thanks!

Bonnie