Rescue, Stabilize and Transform

I am a volunteer with Wings of Angels Foundation and I attended a clinic they held in 2005. That day a boy came to the clinic without arms. His father brought him from Vera Cruz because someone told him Wings of Angels would help him. I leapt to my feet and called out "….this one is mine".
Martin was playing on a roof carrying a long metal post. Suddenly the electrocution happened, searing his arms and exiting through a leg at the knee. Neighbors rushed to help but it was fifteen minutes before the power was disconnected. As the host of many dramas to come, Martin somehow lived through this event. He was rushed to Vera Cruz were surgeon Dr. Maximilliano Chimalpopoca did procedures to save his life and what was left of his functioning body. How was it that this child could endure the devastating pain?
Xrays provided information about where arteries were sound in each arm and it was at that point the burned limbs were removed. The doctor thoughtfully provided a Power Point presentation for subsequent medical personnel to have full knowledge of the case.
The child survived and returned home. Another life blow hit as the mother abandoned any interest in the child and left the home. The father, Martin Choncoa, was to rise as the indefatigable hero. Calling for help from his friends Rafael and Claudia, far away in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Martin and his father made the 36-hour bus trip. They were received warmly. Claudia soon began schooling Martin in daily classes although Martin could not hold a pencil or write. The senior Martin, fighting daily tears, searched for help and found it from the town's young physical therapist Fernando Vasquez. In his call to us, Fernando said "this is the last patient you will receive tonight and he is the most important patient you will ever treat. Please do not leave without seeing him. We will be there shortly."

Collecting our wits, we formed a plan. The first support would come from Sander Nassan, founder and benefactor of Prosthetics, Orthotics, Associates (POA) of Scottsdale, Arizona. Martin's trip to Phoenix would be an all-in-one, preparing and fitting a mechanical arm. Octavio Torres, teen son of the Wings of Angels Sonoran Crisis Intervention Clinic Director asked to travel with Martin and introduce him to what life is like in the US for a kid. They had carte blanche at the hotel which provided a free room, a credit card for video games Martin played with his feet, and at night all-you-can-eat at Red Lobster or Chili's or Olive Garden.
Next, it was necessary to treat the damage done by the exiting current. His leg was locked at 45 degrees. Monte Hessler, chiropractor and trainer for the San Francisco Giants, took a look at the leg and recruited plastic surgeon Dr. Ian Parker and the Specialty Surgical Center to repair the problem, all donated services. A nurse confided to us that during recovery Martin called out again and again for his mother.
Monte took his friendship for Martin a step farther and asked third baseman Pedro Feliz to welcome Martin and Octavio to the Giant's bench on game night. Carlos Chavez of the Arizona Republic filmed that event and the surgery. By this time Martin was attaining fame in Phoenix as newspapers acclaimed this kid's spirit and the generosity of local surgeons, the surgical hospital and the skilled prosthesis expert who built Martin's mechanical arm.
Time went by. Martin entered school and had no difficult participating. He won student of the year and a little scholarship. Now that the leg was normal, he could run and play soccer.
Martin senior became a reliable worker within the Agua Prieta municipal workforce and established such a relationship that he and his son received a tiny (140sf) full-service home as a part of the municipal plan to place especially deserving residents in suitable homes. Wings of Angels added 400sf more.
Then the world collapsed. Martin entered a deep depression as his teen boy hormones raced and he said "no woman will ever love me because I do not have arms…" This went on and on and we were very concerned yet quite helpless. We established the Saturday Art Class for disabled children and adults, in part to prepare Martin for a possible future in architecture or engineering. His first art (enhanced by the artist and class instructor Abel Verdin) was sold after many escalating offers to purchase were considered. One Saturday morning turning the corner to the art class, I spied Martin necking with a girl outside. I cheered, the black days were over!

Fast forward: Martin joined the Youth group at a local Catholic parish and sings in the choir. He earned a scholarship for high school, and announced to El Imparcial, the local newspaper, that he was planning a career in architecture. Scholarships for this endeavor (three years out) will surely flood in for this magnificent child who has brought us years of nearly inexpressible joy.

The Hermosillo Mother’s Club

The ladies from Hermosillo began arriving with their disabled children at our monthly clinic in August, 2009. It is a five-hour trip. They asked for our help because friends told them we would give their children the best care. Manuelito was not able to hold up his head on his first visit and Jesus Angel was a limp little boy cradled in his mother's arms. 
Our founder and physical therapist, Marge Conroy, designed special therapies for each child. And, she was able to send them home with extraordinary pieces of therapy equipment provided by Denver medical vendors and hauled four times a year to us by Ron Becker, our engineer and board member. With the new training and equipment, the mother’s were able to form their own group in Hermosillo. They baby sit for one another and have learned the therapy regimen for each child. 
The Hermosillo Mother’s are sophisticated and can take advantage of materials available in a more cosmopolitan environment. This program is a fine example of propagation wherein the initial training of the tasks to be accomplished are taught, followed by spontaneous, creative expansion.

The Angel Treasure

Angel and Martin at Art Class

It is difficult to remember that this eight- year-old was born with one arm and no legs! He is oblivious to hardship. His handsome, dimpled, smiling face is irresistible. He endures our frequent cheek kisses with patience.
He lives with his mom Alicia, two sisters Nora and Edith, two brothers Florentino and Jesus, and his grandmother Alexandra, (72) and great-grandmother Maria (90). They recently lost their house due to an unwise decision made by the father to borrow $7000 against the property. The creative grandmother, realizing the equity remaining in the property transaction, asked for and received a partially built two-room home located on the outskirts of Agua Prieta, an undeveloped area without water or electric services for everyone. There are two rooms, a bathroom, and a very large yard. Before the project start, we secured a firm title in the name of the grandmother and Angel.
Every year since 2005, the Rotaract (college) and Interact (high school) Rotary Clubs of Logan, Utah, raise money to build a home for a deserving yet desperate family here in Aqua Prieta. Their drive is nineteen hours, their work is scheduled for three days, and their return home begins at mid-point on day four. The crew is directed by Wings of Angels Mexican constructor Marcelino Enriquez. Work began in April, 2010. A large main room was constructed including electric wiring and plumbing for the future services which are expected. Alicia is an avid gardener and half of the site was tilled and prepped. Gutters (prepared in Logan) run around the roof collecting rain water in tanks for irrigation and use in the toilet.
In early summer the family moved into their new home. Alicia noticed the cool interior temperature. (We include insulation and dry wall under the tin roof in the houses we prepare which is not a standard practice in Mexico). Alicia has chilies, chard, and squash growing. A special low window in the new room enables Angel to see everything happening outside from his wheelchair. And Angel has a table garden for his personal use. A new concrete path allows his easy access.
As you may remember, we created a Saturday Art Class for Martin, Esther who suffered a stroke at 13, and others including adults with disabilities. Martin is learning design and drafting techniques to pursue a career either in engineering or architecture. Angel is especially good at mathematics and may follow Martin in a similar career. Martin and Angel have become very good friends and we expect Martin to guide Angel through the more difficult days to come as a teenager. It is breathtaking to remember that between the two of them they share one arm and two legs, precious and invincible, and a great example for those with a tendency to whine and not enjoy life at any age.
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The collage shows the original house (top and bottom center), preparing the garden soil and cesspool, Angel painting his bedroom, the “school room” he and his friends America and Melissa built for themselves (middle left). Melissa teaches the other two eight-year-olds English. Inside the new great room Jeff Larsen of Logan, Utah Rotary, leads the build-out crew of college Rotarians. Lower right we see Angel and his sister Edith at the Wings of Angels Saturday Art Class.