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."