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My brother Eduardo needs a prosthesis that would enable him to walk independently and work again. Eduardo is probably the most positive and optimistic person I know. His life has been full of challenges and every time he faces one, I only hear hopeful expressions coming out of his mouth such as “everything is going to be fine,” “God is going to provide,” “I’m looking forward to the end of this trial so I can go back to work,” etc. This time, the greatest challenge he is facing is the loss of his left leg due to complications with diabetes, which has brought a lot of pain and suffering to him and his family.
Sometime after his diagnosis with diabetes, my brother Eduardo started to struggle with infections in his feet when he had small cuts, blisters, or bruises. Diabetes makes that kind of foot damage heal poorly and very slowly. Every time that happened to him, he went through unspeakable pain not only because of the wound but also from the cleaning that had to be done daily to prevent infection. He managed to save his feet for several years, however this year, on February 14, after indescribable pain that lasted several days while desperately trying to keep his foot from getting an infection, the doctors determined that there was no way to save his left foot. He went through the surgery to have his foot amputated and when he woke up, he realized that the doctors decided to remove most of his leg. It was a shock for him and everyone in the family, and this drastic action was further amplified because it occurred shortly after our family marked the first anniversary of our eldest sister’s tragic death also due to complications related to diabetes.
My brother, who is 55, is a skilled and creative blacksmith. He was fully employed before this terrible life-changing event. As a full-time employee, his medical expenses related to the surgery were covered by the government health system. The health system in Mexico, unfortunately, only covers the most basic things, not prothesis or even a wheelchair. Those things have to be paid out of pocket. Eduardo is applying for a disability pension but that process has been slow, plagued with red tape and uncertainty. His financial support for basic daily expenses has come from his immediate family, and to a certain degree, from us, his siblings. However, due to the pandemic and everyone’s own life complications, lending a hand to him is becoming increasingly difficult. This is why Eduardo really wants and needs to be able to work again.
After the amputation of his leg, my brother received a wheelchair out of the generosity of his daughter’s boss. However, mobility remains a challenge. Since Eduardo does not own a vehicle, he relies on public transportation in our home city of Puebla, making it practically impossible to use the wheelchair. To get around he uses crutches, but in order to have real possibilities to go back to work, he needs a prosthesis that would allow him to use both hands to do his work.
After looking at different options, we found a local company (www.mediprax.mx) that makes hydraulic prosthesis and provides all the needed support and therapy. The price of this prosthesis is well beyond the reach of my brother and my family in general. That is why I am appealing to your generosity. Your donation will bring my brother closer to the life-giving dream of walking again independently and with it, to recover his ability to work doing what he loves to do and supporting himself and his family.
The name of this campaign is “rise up and walk!” and was inspired by the story in the book of Acts 3:6-8 where Jesus’ apostles Peter and John on their way to the temple found a lame man who asked them to help him with alms. Peter’s response was, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! (v. 6). And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong (v.7).” I believe in miracles. I believe in miracles performed by those who stop, look, and listen just as Peter and John did. I believe in miracles that take place when someone uses their right hand (a symbol of power in many biblical passages) to empower others. The power to make a difference in someone’s life in this case comes from acts of solidarity and generosity. Your donation of any amount can make a huge difference. Your solidarity and generosity have the power to make my brother walk again and regain his self-esteem and confidence in his ability to be independent.
My brother Eduardo lives in Puebla, Mexico with his wife Bety, one of his two grown children, Laura, and two of his grandchildren. His other child is Eduardo -who appears in the picture above with my brother. My brother is also pictured below with all three of his grandchildren: Ricardo, Mateo, and Camila, along with my brother's wife. My name is Francisco Pelaez-Diaz, I’m a Ph.D. candidate in Religion and Society at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Sometime after his diagnosis with diabetes, my brother Eduardo started to struggle with infections in his feet when he had small cuts, blisters, or bruises. Diabetes makes that kind of foot damage heal poorly and very slowly. Every time that happened to him, he went through unspeakable pain not only because of the wound but also from the cleaning that had to be done daily to prevent infection. He managed to save his feet for several years, however this year, on February 14, after indescribable pain that lasted several days while desperately trying to keep his foot from getting an infection, the doctors determined that there was no way to save his left foot. He went through the surgery to have his foot amputated and when he woke up, he realized that the doctors decided to remove most of his leg. It was a shock for him and everyone in the family, and this drastic action was further amplified because it occurred shortly after our family marked the first anniversary of our eldest sister’s tragic death also due to complications related to diabetes.
My brother, who is 55, is a skilled and creative blacksmith. He was fully employed before this terrible life-changing event. As a full-time employee, his medical expenses related to the surgery were covered by the government health system. The health system in Mexico, unfortunately, only covers the most basic things, not prothesis or even a wheelchair. Those things have to be paid out of pocket. Eduardo is applying for a disability pension but that process has been slow, plagued with red tape and uncertainty. His financial support for basic daily expenses has come from his immediate family, and to a certain degree, from us, his siblings. However, due to the pandemic and everyone’s own life complications, lending a hand to him is becoming increasingly difficult. This is why Eduardo really wants and needs to be able to work again.
After the amputation of his leg, my brother received a wheelchair out of the generosity of his daughter’s boss. However, mobility remains a challenge. Since Eduardo does not own a vehicle, he relies on public transportation in our home city of Puebla, making it practically impossible to use the wheelchair. To get around he uses crutches, but in order to have real possibilities to go back to work, he needs a prosthesis that would allow him to use both hands to do his work.
After looking at different options, we found a local company (www.mediprax.mx) that makes hydraulic prosthesis and provides all the needed support and therapy. The price of this prosthesis is well beyond the reach of my brother and my family in general. That is why I am appealing to your generosity. Your donation will bring my brother closer to the life-giving dream of walking again independently and with it, to recover his ability to work doing what he loves to do and supporting himself and his family.
The name of this campaign is “rise up and walk!” and was inspired by the story in the book of Acts 3:6-8 where Jesus’ apostles Peter and John on their way to the temple found a lame man who asked them to help him with alms. Peter’s response was, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! (v. 6). And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong (v.7).” I believe in miracles. I believe in miracles performed by those who stop, look, and listen just as Peter and John did. I believe in miracles that take place when someone uses their right hand (a symbol of power in many biblical passages) to empower others. The power to make a difference in someone’s life in this case comes from acts of solidarity and generosity. Your donation of any amount can make a huge difference. Your solidarity and generosity have the power to make my brother walk again and regain his self-esteem and confidence in his ability to be independent.
My brother Eduardo lives in Puebla, Mexico with his wife Bety, one of his two grown children, Laura, and two of his grandchildren. His other child is Eduardo -who appears in the picture above with my brother. My brother is also pictured below with all three of his grandchildren: Ricardo, Mateo, and Camila, along with my brother's wife. My name is Francisco Pelaez-Diaz, I’m a Ph.D. candidate in Religion and Society at Princeton Theological Seminary.