Story of the week: Kelly

Due to some complications at birth, little Kelly stayed too long in the womb of her mother; this led the amniotic fluid to directly damage her brain causing her moderate retardation and stunting her ability to hear and speak.

"When my daughter realized that Kelly was special, she did not want to take care of her. She said that it would be better give her away or sell her. That broke my heart, and although we were poor I decided to raise my granddaughter as my own daughter. "Told us Kelly's grandmother.

It's been 13 years and now Kelly Alondra Antón Salas is a teenager who lives with her grandmother, her aunt and her 11 year old and four month old cousins in a small room, located in a crowded neighborhood in Lima, Peru. To survive, her grandmother and aunt make money selling breakfast in the morning.

"Kelly needs a lot of care, therapy, and especially a wheelchair to move around and carry her everywhere. Now she is bigger and neither my mother nor I can carry her all the time. We'd love to buy one, but we just don't have enough money, "her aunt told us.

The opportunity came when Camino de Vida, with the support of Free Wheelchair Mission, notified us that a wheelchair was on its way, and completely free. The news was overwhelming, but we accepted the chair, filled with joy and thanksgiving.

"Our life has not been easy. We've passed through many shortcomings, that is why we are very grateful to Camino de Vida and Free Wheelchair Mission, to meet a need like this.Now I won't have to carry my granddaughter all the time. You do not know how relieved I am - I am an elderly woman and I'm not as strong as I used to be. Plus, I will be able to take her everywhere and especially to my work where I will be able to watch her at all times. I appreciate you and God has always been there helping us. This gift can be one more confirmation for us in how much he cares for us, "added Kelly's grandmother.

Seeing her new wheelchair, Kelly could not contain her joy, and although unable to speak, she gave us a thumbs-up and made us understand that she was very happy.