Our community members are in need of proper equipment such as assistive devices like wheelchairs, canes, walkers and orthotics. We have built relationships with local Guatemalan organizations and orthotists who will be able to help us supply the equipment needs of this community. Please consider purchasing a Tesoro Project T-Shirt to help fund this cause!

Sammi is a sweet 4 year old boy with Cerebral Palsy. Sammi?s legs and feet are very weak and he has difficulty controlling his legs and maintaining the correct positioning when in weight bearing positions. Due to poor access to healthcare and financial burden, Sammi has not received therapeutic care since he was 1 year old. 3 years ago, Sammi was provided with exercises from a physical therapist, and his mom completed them with Sammi daily. During the most recent Tesoro trip, in August of 2021, Sammi worked with one of our physical therapists and his exercises were progressed to incorporate weight bearing of the legs and arms. These allowed Sammi to perform more age-appropriate skills and improve functional independence. With the help of Carolyn, an OT on the Tesoro team, AFO braces were created out of material that Tesoro brought. One was made for each foot to improve positioning of the feet when Sammi is working on his weight bearing and standing exercises! The team was also able to create a resting night time splint to address the spasticity and tightness of the right hand. This allows for improved weight bearing and continued strengthening of the arms and hands. Sammi and his mother were referred to a nearby hospital to participate in an intensive therapy program and were put on the waiting list. We pray that Sammi will move up the wait list quickly. As Sammi grows, he will require new splints and braces. This equipment fund will allow Tesoro to provide the financial resources for our local Guatemalan partners to create these new braces for Sammi, and many other community members like him.