HELPING HAND- JULY2011- JEFFRY REYES

Prepared by Isis

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT:Jeffry Reyes is a 5 year old boy. He lives in Choluteca Honduras with his mother, Aminta Avila, father, Gilberto Reyes and his 12 year old sister, Yilda. At 5 months old Jeffry was diagnosed with Werdnig-Hoffmann disease. Werdnig-Hoffman disease is a spinal muscular deterioration which leads to muscle weakness. A person with Werdnig-Hoffman disease has a lack of motor development and poor muscle tone.

HELPING HAND NEED: A local Telethon Foundation in Honduras provided Jeffry with an opportunity to receive physical therapy which has helped him to have more movement in his body and his extremities. Because of his muscle weakness Jeffry is carried by his mother to the bus stop which is 2 ½ miles from the family’s home. Jeffry is getting older, taller and heavier each year and this has become an increasing difficulty for his mother and Jeffry to get to their destinations. Jeffry has very week muscle control in his ankles and feet and an AFO Dynamic which is a brace that helps with ankle and foot movement and stabilization would help Jeffry in his physical therapy to achieve the goal to walk. We provided Jeffry with the AFO Dynamic brace as well as a stroller so that Jeffry and his mother can get to where they need with ease and less worry.

THOUGHTS FROM JEFFRY'S MOTHER:“I am so thankful with this help for my son. You are angels sent by God. My son is my life and I worried about him but God has helped me every moment that I needed. Now with therapy and the AFO brace, I know that he is going to walk."

HELPING HAND- JUNE 2011- CORRALES ESPINO FAMILY

Prepared by Isis

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT:
The Corrales Espino family is a wonderful family that lives just south of Choluteca Honduras. There are 7 members of their family; the father, 37 year old Santos, the mother, 35 year old Vilma and their 5 children: Katy 12, Evelin 10, Michelle 8, Viviam 3 and a new baby. Santos works as a guard and his wife, before she had the baby, cleaned homes. With 3 of their children going to school it often they have financial difficulties, paying for school, their home and other of life’s necessities.

HELPING HAND NEED:
About a year ago during the winter season all of the Correles Espino’s children got sick. The home in which the family lives was in bad shape and the walls were falling apart and they had holes in the aluminum sheets, which is what is used as the walls at their home. In Honduras during the winter, they receive a lot of rain and when it would rain there would be a river of water that ran through the family home. It was a very hard winter for the family because the children were so sick, due to the cold and wet from the rain. The family didn’t have the money available to pay for the medicine that was needed or to fix the walls to prevent future illness. We purchased some wood and supplies, a local church helped with the labor and we were able to make the walls of the home solid so the water from the winter rains would no longer enter the home and the family could stay warm and healthy.

THOUGHTS FROM SANTOS:
“When I saw you coming I was looking at the sky thinking the winter is here and my kids will get sick again. I didn’t have any idea what you were coming for but when you told me that you were going to help my family, I felt so happy and the first word that came to my mind was Thanks God. Now that my house has new walls, I will sleep well without thinking about my kids getting sick. Thank you for your help; I don’t know how to pay you back, God Bless You.”

HELPING HAND- FERNANDO- MAY 2011

Prepared by Isis

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT:
Fernando Diaz is a 43 year old man living in Choluteca. He and his lovely wife Jobita have 6 children together, ranging in age from 10-21. Fernando has a small field he works on near the river in Choluteca. He plants corn, beans and bananas that he can sell in order to provide for his family and home. A few years ago Fernando’s field was devastated by a hurricane causing Fernando to have to start fresh. He is an extremely hard worker that is committed to paying for his children’s education and supporting their future.

HELPING HAND NEED:
On a daily basis Fernando can be seen walking around the neighborhood and around the city selling the beans, corn and banana’s he has so carefully grown. After speaking to him, Fernando expressed his need for quicker transportation in order to sell his items and would love to eventually have a bike of his own. That was an easy request and we were happy to help Fernando get that bike to ease the task of selling and hauling his items around. Fernando and his family were extremely grateful for the bike and were excited to use it for some other tasks to make life a little easier.

THOUGHTS FROM FERNANDO:
“It was a great surprise when they told me that they were going to give me a bike. My children were so excited they started jumping up and down. I thank you for all your help and believe me, this bike will be so important to me so I can sell my good quickly. Thanks and God bless you.”

HELPING HAND-APRIL 2011- LILIAN ESPINOZA

Prepared By Isis

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT: Lilian Espinoza is a 38 year old recently single mother that is struggling to support her kids. Lilian had two grown daughters that are married, two younger children living with her and sadly is mourning the loss of her 11 year old son who passed away just recently.

HELPING HAND NEED: Lilian sells tamales to try and provide a little income for her family. Right from the start Lilian expressed her desire to support her family and shared with us her love for sewing. Grandway decided to gift a new electric sewing machine to Lilian so that she can also provide alteration/repair sewing services within her community to provide additional income for her family.

THOUGHTS FROM LILIAN: “I am so thankful and overwhelmed that it is hard to describe how I feel, my heart is full of joy. The school fee’s for my children have been hard to pay but the sewing income will allow me to help my kids. Thank you so much, God bless you and your factory as well.”

HELPING HAND- MARCH 2011-ALBERTINA CENTENO

PREPARED BY ISIS

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT: Albertina Centeno is devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Albertina and her husband are the parents of 3 children, two of whom passed away leaving Albertina and her husband responsible for raising 4 of their precious grandchildren.

HELPING HAND NEED: With the added responsibility of raising her 4 grandchildren the Centeno family has struggled emotionally with the loss of their family members and also financially to provide some basic items the family needs. Albertina works to supplement the family’s income by selling tortillas, in addition to her husband working as a security guard. The family currently has 2 beds for the 6 family members and really needed some help making sure they all had a comfortable place to sleep. Grandway was happy to help the Centeno family by providing extra beds to make this amazing grandmother and her family a little more comfortable.

THOUGHTS FROM ALBERTINA: “Thank you for the help, I really want you to know how much this means to me. I have faith that this all comes from God and I know that life have been hard but God blesses me when I really need it and is now blessing me through you. Thank you for coming to my home and helping me and my family”

HELPING HAND- FEBRUARY 2011 AARON

Meet the Escalante Family:
Noemi Escalante is a diligent worker from Choluteca, Honduras, who works out of her home as a seamstress, her husband works as a mechanic. They are the loving parents to a five-year old named Aaron. Both parents work hard to provide for their family, however, the money they make is only enough for daily sustenance.

Helping Hand Need:
During our visit with the Escalante’s, we learned the story of Aaron Escalante. Twenty one days after being born, Aaron experienced an extremely high fever and his parents took him to see the local doctor. They gave his some medicine and sent him home. About an hour after leaving the doctor, Aaron started experiencing seizures. His parents rushed him to Tegucigalpa (Capital of Honduras), where they felt they could better assess his situation. After many tests it was determined that Aaron had a condition called Microcephaly which led to Meningitis, doctors gave him one hour to live. Aaron survived but this infection left Aaron with the inability to walk.

Grandway’s Helping Hand:

Prior to surgery, Aaron’s legs were locked in the form of a cross and Aaron faced excruciating pain. In December of 2010 Aaron had a surgery stretching his leg muscles and alleviating some of his pain. Doctors have taken the casts off, and told Aaron he needed an orthopedic instrument to keep the legs from returning back to the way they were. Grandway Honduras provided this loving family with support and an orthopedic instrument making it easier for his mother to bathe and clean Aaron.Thoughts from Noemi and Lucio Escalante:
“Before the surgery we struggled with understanding God’s purpose, we couldn’t afford to buy the instruments Aaron needed to walk. In the end God has worked in many ways allowing us to meet you. Our baby Aaron, who we love dearly, has been the best gift God could have given us. We are so appreciative in your help.”

HELPING HAND-JANUARY 2011 WENDY

Prepared by Isis

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT
Wendy Giron is a hard worker from Choluteca, Honduras, who works out of her home as a seamstress, and her husband works from home as a home builder. They have 4 children; Josselin (12), Nayeli (9), Kristian (6) and Leonardo (2). The children enjoy spending time with their family. Both parents work very hard to provide for their family however, the money they make is only enough for daily sustenance. They don't have additional money to help improve their quality of life.

HELPING HAND NEED
While visiting the Giron's, we discovered the home they lived in was in extremely poor condition. The home was lacking an essential water connection. The Giron's would often have to borrow drinking water from their neighbor, and travel to the river to do laundry. Also the children's beds were in horrible condition, the boxed springs were worn and broken. We provided this loving family with a water connection and provided beds for the children. The family now has clean water to use for drinking and laundry. We were also able to help them by providing beds for the children. Now the children are able to sleep comfortably.

THOUGHTS FROM WENDY
"For years I never thought someone could help our situation. Each day I had to walk to the river to do laundry and borrow drinking water from our neighbor. I am so grateful for the help you have given our family."