Polio Victims - Rehabilitation
This project while we are not specifically targeting to find victims of polio, we can't help noticing when such victims appear on our travels. We have therefore made it a part of what we do everyday - to have a conversation with them and see if there is anything we can do. Our current project is a bit of a test case - to just see what can be done. We are not doctors but we are persistent and generally don't take no for an answer. With a little bit of extra effort, we believe that we can make a huge difference.
As part of our LUV Project, we have found a very good first candidate for assistance and this assistance is now on-going with exercise rehabilitation and provision of exercise equipment. His name is Beo and he is 21. He has been afflicted with Polio since he was 10. Since that time he has not been to school or hardly been outside the house. He can't walk or talk as his jaw is locked but makes grunting sounds. He can hear and see - so it becomes clear when you talk with him that he is bright as he listens intently to all the conversations. One of his hands is reasonably agile with the use of all of his fingers. He has no paper or pencils to draw or write, he hasn't learned to write. He has no books to look at and TV has been his only communication with the world and this is now gone as it is broken. His father says he likes fiddling with electronics and neighbours bring small electrical gadgets for him to fix with his one good hand. Neighbourhood children also come down to see him and Beo gives them a friendly welcome.
He has recently undergone an operation on his badly crippled hand to straighten the hand and allow him more flexability. We are not sure but we feel he can understand some English as well as Lao - this could be a result of watching TV for some time in his life - the TV which is now broken and they can't afford to fix. However, because he can't communicate he is trapped in his own body.
This room is Beo's home and this is Marilyn - one of the Australian volunteers and our Lao driver Phet who also volunteers in this type of work and helps at Suan Luang. Beo's Dad is such a nice man with such a kind face and he welcomed us into his home and allowed us to ask many questions. Beo lives in a stable family with his Mum and Dad and siblings but on this day his mother was at work and we were able to fetch the father through the help of villagers. Most time Beo stays on his own. This stability of family and commitment by the family makes him a good candidate to try to get some help if at all possible.
Beo has a wheelchair donated to him but he really can't go anywhere other than in the one downstairs room as the terrain around the home is rocky and steep and there are no paths or proper roads to be able to utilise the wheel chair.
He has recently undergone an operation on his badly crippled hand to straighten the hand and allow him more flexability. We are not sure but we feel he can understand some English as well as Lao - this could be a result of watching TV for some time in his life - the TV which is now broken and they can't afford to fix. However, because he can't communicate he is trapped in his own body.
This room is Beo's home and this is Marilyn - one of the Australian volunteers and our Lao driver Phet who also volunteers in this type of work and helps at Suan Luang. Beo's Dad is such a nice man with such a kind face and he welcomed us into his home and allowed us to ask many questions. Beo lives in a stable family with his Mum and Dad and siblings but on this day his mother was at work and we were able to fetch the father through the help of villagers. Most time Beo stays on his own. This stability of family and commitment by the family makes him a good candidate to try to get some help if at all possible.
Beo has a wheelchair donated to him but he really can't go anywhere other than in the one downstairs room as the terrain around the home is rocky and steep and there are no paths or proper roads to be able to utilise the wheel chair.
Global Support Association' initial assessment process
Family Stability and support
Beo's Dad and Mum are such nice people and we were welcomed into their home and were allowed to ask many questions and take many photographs to take to COPE to see if it was worth having an assessment first. Beo lives in a stable family with his Mum and Dad and siblings and all the family go to work or school each day. Luckily, that day, we were able to fetch the father from his work. Most time Beo stays on his own.
This stability of family and commitment by the family makes him a good candidate to try to get some help if at all possible. Without this support from family - the task would be impossible if possible at all.
Our later visit to COPE with the photographs gave us hope that something may be possible.
Communicating the Options
The family were unaware that assistance may be possible and that this could be offered free of charge through the Lao government but Beo would need to be assessed first to see if anything could be done. We all agreed to give it a try - no promises but it would be a hard road ahead for Beo with lots of rehabilitation - but if we could get even some small results it would be worth the try.
Global Support Association Inc offered to pay for transport, food, hospital and assessment costs etc if the parents were willing to take Beo to Luang Prabang. It took them 5 seconds to agree. Beo's father admitted he had been concerned as to what would happen when he died and how could Beo cope and this gave them some hope that Beo might be able to become even a little independent.
Beo had a wheelchair donated to him previously, but he really can't go anywhere other than in the one downstairs room as the terrain around the home is rocky and steep and there are no paths or proper roads to be able to utilise the wheel chair. The rest of the family live upstairs where there is no furniture at all - just mats on the floor. If Beo has to go to the toilet - he is able to get off his chair and crawl to the door to outside but he has to wait for his father to come home to put him back in the chair.
Global Support Association Inc agreed then to collect the family early one morning by boat to take Beo to the COPE Rehabilitation Centre in Luang Prabang.
Assessment at the COPE Rehabilitation Centre
The centre was very helpful and we all agreed that a 3 day stay at the centre for Beo and the family would be best. We had asked the parents to bring clothes in case they had to stay and they did. In that period Beo would have some rehabilitation sessions and the centre would teach the parents some exercises that they needed to do with Beo everyday.
We agreed to buy special pillows, special size chairs and we were given a list of needs. Mum came with us to ensure we got the right things according to COPE. They were advised to get rid of the wheelchair as Beo would now need to ensure that his feet were always on the floor so he could do exercises and also to install 2 bamboo bars at the house for Beo to practice standing and walking. Amazing.
Meanwhile Global Support Association paid for all costs as promised. The total deal including the 3 day stay for all of them, a fan because it was unbearably hot, food for the family, transport up and down the river 3 times, and transport in Luang Prabang as well as new chairs, new rehabilitation equipment was just over $300. A bargain for us but 6 months salary for some of the local people. Money goes a long way in Laos.
Back at Home
Global Support Association Inc. team collected Beo and the family from the hospital for the transport home. Beo still has his wheelchair but will no longer use it as his total world at home. We had chairs, stools, pillows etc with us and delivered them all back home and ordered some chairs from the local woodworking shop. We helped carry Beo up the hill to his house. All the village came down to meet us as we arrived back. They were all keen to hear what had happened in the big city Luang Prabang. As is tradition if anyone visits the city they have to bring something back for the village. The fruit Rambutans were in season so the family shared the Rambutans they purchased with the village.
When we got inside the house - we asked Beo to show us what he did at the hospital. He wheeled himself to the window and with the help of the window ledges and posts he stood up. First time to stand up (except for the hospital) since he was 10. Cheers and Tears all around and a very proud Beo and parents.
He is now continuing his treatment at home. We have agreed to revisit him after 3 months which is due now. We will be delayed and it will probably be 4 months before we get to see him. But that is okay - the Lao are very patient. We will then have to take him for further assessment. We have no possible communication with the family but I'm sure Beo will be looking out that window and waiting for us to arrive back. We can't let him down.
Mental Training
Beo was waiting for his promised reward - the computer being held by our driver Phet. Sam our IT volunteer who had previously worked on a computer help line was fantastic. It was wonderful to see the patience by someone so young and the training he gave to someone so isolated from that IT world. It was a wonderful session and Beo learned some computer games to start. We will go further with this once he builds up his dexterity with his hands and his hand eye coordination. In the future it is possible that he could attend a school in Luang Prabang that teaches computers to disabled persons to help them get a job. Wouldn't that be nice - but that is still a long way. When we go back we will show Beo the videos of Peter Kim and hope it will give him some hope and inspiration.
Beo's Dad and Mum are such nice people and we were welcomed into their home and were allowed to ask many questions and take many photographs to take to COPE to see if it was worth having an assessment first. Beo lives in a stable family with his Mum and Dad and siblings and all the family go to work or school each day. Luckily, that day, we were able to fetch the father from his work. Most time Beo stays on his own.
This stability of family and commitment by the family makes him a good candidate to try to get some help if at all possible. Without this support from family - the task would be impossible if possible at all.
Our later visit to COPE with the photographs gave us hope that something may be possible.
Communicating the Options
The family were unaware that assistance may be possible and that this could be offered free of charge through the Lao government but Beo would need to be assessed first to see if anything could be done. We all agreed to give it a try - no promises but it would be a hard road ahead for Beo with lots of rehabilitation - but if we could get even some small results it would be worth the try.
Global Support Association Inc offered to pay for transport, food, hospital and assessment costs etc if the parents were willing to take Beo to Luang Prabang. It took them 5 seconds to agree. Beo's father admitted he had been concerned as to what would happen when he died and how could Beo cope and this gave them some hope that Beo might be able to become even a little independent.
Beo had a wheelchair donated to him previously, but he really can't go anywhere other than in the one downstairs room as the terrain around the home is rocky and steep and there are no paths or proper roads to be able to utilise the wheel chair. The rest of the family live upstairs where there is no furniture at all - just mats on the floor. If Beo has to go to the toilet - he is able to get off his chair and crawl to the door to outside but he has to wait for his father to come home to put him back in the chair.
Global Support Association Inc agreed then to collect the family early one morning by boat to take Beo to the COPE Rehabilitation Centre in Luang Prabang.
Assessment at the COPE Rehabilitation Centre
The centre was very helpful and we all agreed that a 3 day stay at the centre for Beo and the family would be best. We had asked the parents to bring clothes in case they had to stay and they did. In that period Beo would have some rehabilitation sessions and the centre would teach the parents some exercises that they needed to do with Beo everyday.
We agreed to buy special pillows, special size chairs and we were given a list of needs. Mum came with us to ensure we got the right things according to COPE. They were advised to get rid of the wheelchair as Beo would now need to ensure that his feet were always on the floor so he could do exercises and also to install 2 bamboo bars at the house for Beo to practice standing and walking. Amazing.
Meanwhile Global Support Association paid for all costs as promised. The total deal including the 3 day stay for all of them, a fan because it was unbearably hot, food for the family, transport up and down the river 3 times, and transport in Luang Prabang as well as new chairs, new rehabilitation equipment was just over $300. A bargain for us but 6 months salary for some of the local people. Money goes a long way in Laos.
Back at Home
Global Support Association Inc. team collected Beo and the family from the hospital for the transport home. Beo still has his wheelchair but will no longer use it as his total world at home. We had chairs, stools, pillows etc with us and delivered them all back home and ordered some chairs from the local woodworking shop. We helped carry Beo up the hill to his house. All the village came down to meet us as we arrived back. They were all keen to hear what had happened in the big city Luang Prabang. As is tradition if anyone visits the city they have to bring something back for the village. The fruit Rambutans were in season so the family shared the Rambutans they purchased with the village.
When we got inside the house - we asked Beo to show us what he did at the hospital. He wheeled himself to the window and with the help of the window ledges and posts he stood up. First time to stand up (except for the hospital) since he was 10. Cheers and Tears all around and a very proud Beo and parents.
He is now continuing his treatment at home. We have agreed to revisit him after 3 months which is due now. We will be delayed and it will probably be 4 months before we get to see him. But that is okay - the Lao are very patient. We will then have to take him for further assessment. We have no possible communication with the family but I'm sure Beo will be looking out that window and waiting for us to arrive back. We can't let him down.
Mental Training
Beo was waiting for his promised reward - the computer being held by our driver Phet. Sam our IT volunteer who had previously worked on a computer help line was fantastic. It was wonderful to see the patience by someone so young and the training he gave to someone so isolated from that IT world. It was a wonderful session and Beo learned some computer games to start. We will go further with this once he builds up his dexterity with his hands and his hand eye coordination. In the future it is possible that he could attend a school in Luang Prabang that teaches computers to disabled persons to help them get a job. Wouldn't that be nice - but that is still a long way. When we go back we will show Beo the videos of Peter Kim and hope it will give him some hope and inspiration.
