Helen Keller is a name familiar to many of us. She was blind and deaf, but her advocacy and the film about her life, The Miracle Worker, had a massive impact on how the world views disabled people. In Puerto Vallarta, we have a lady with a similar passion. Yolanda Sánchez has been advocating for families with children with disabilities since December 2, 1999, when she and eight mothers of children with acute disabilities began to work together with their children in just one room of a house.
Now the much loved Pasitos de Luz / Casa Connor charity serves about 130 low-income families, all of whom have children suffering from acute physical and psychological disabilities. Pasitos offers the children, at no charge, services that include physical therapy, hydrotherapy, psychological care, nutrition and wellness, and education. However, Pasitos de Luz receives no government support and relies entirely on donations and fund-raisers for its income.
During much of 2021, it was impossible to offer face-to-face services at Pasitos. But happily, the supporters of Pasitos de Luz, including the International Friendship Club, have continued to help financially. This support has enabled Pasitos to continue to provide its families with food, medicines, supplements, educational materials, therapy assistance and equipment in the homes.
When the Covid-19 pandemic happened, the facility had to close. But the staff launched their equipment loan project, which allowed parents to borrow equipment and work with their children in their homes. Here’s a story of a family working to create their own miracle.
Brittany Guadalupe is four years old and has cerebral palsy. She began attending Pasitos at the start of 2020. At that time, she could not walk or use her right hand. Thanks to the patient work of the physiotherapist, she was making significant progress at Pasitos. But, then because of Covid, it closed. So her parents applied for an assisted walking device for her and worked with her every day, and their dedication paid off.
Her mom, Elizabeth, tells us, “The walking frame loaned to us has worked just perfectly for Brittany. She can support her weight now, and her little feet are a lot stronger. We were so proud to see her taking her first steps, grabbing her dad’s hand and walking the length of our patio. We get her in the walker every day, and it has been such a huge help for Brittany and us. Thank you, Pasitos de Luz, for your help”.
You can see Brittany using her walking frame in THIS VIDEO.
The International Friendship Club is gratefully accepting tax-deductible donations at ifcvallarta.org so that we can continue to support Pasitos de Luz and other charities that make life better for the people of Puerto Vallarta. Please, donate or take a Home Tour.
Written by John Warren of the International Friendship Club.
The International Friendship Club is a registered charitable organization in Mexico listed as Club Internacional de la Amistad de Puerto Vallarta A.C. It is located at the northeast corner of the Rio Cuale Bridge above the HSBC Bank, Colonia El Centro, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, 48300. Phone: 322-222-5466. Website: ifcvallarta.org Email: info(at)ifcvallarta.org
