More Than a Walker: The Power of Community in Jacob’s Healing
Twelve-year-old Jacob* suffered from chronic pain. Due to a deformity in his hips, his hips, legs, and feet hurt constantly. He couldn’t maintain a standing position, and the constant pain interrupted his sleep at night.
However, on January 27th, Jacob’s quality of life took a dramatic turn. Because of your kind and compassionate support, Jacob was able to undergo a bilateral tenotomy, a surgery in which tendons are cut to improve hip abduction and knee extension. As a result, Jacob is now pain-free, thus allowing him increased mobility and independence.
Jacob’s journey to healing did not stop on surgery day. Though surgery relieved him of physical pain and improved his posture, he still needed a walker for support with standing and walking. However, his walker was not adapted for his new physical needs post-surgery.
But we know God is faithful and is able to supply all of our needs. One day, one of Jacob’s caregivers happened to see a technician’s video published on social media. Not only did the technician happen to own a business in Latacunga where he specializes in customizing wheelchairs, but he offered to adapt Jacob’s walker for free! Utilizing his creativity and materials already available at the home, he was able to customize Jacob’s walker so that it could finally fully benefit him. But his kindness didn’t stop there! He also offered to help the home in the future with repairing and adapting wheelchairs and walkers as needed.
God using the talents of a local individual was just one more piece of the puzzle that contributed to Jacob’s healing journey. We know that God delights in using different people for His honor and glory, so long as they are willing to be used by Him. We look forward to seeing how God will continue to provide people with their varying gifts and strengths to meet the many needs at FHC. We know the local community holds precious potential. Perhaps medical personnel could offer voluntary medical services, or local police could provide more security, or community leaders could involve the children and young adults in special events.
Just as God wove together His Word over many centuries, across many lands, and using thousands of people to write His story, we know that God continues to write the story of His work through each of us, and through our varying backgrounds, talents, strengths, and weaknesses. I Corinthians 12:14 says, “For the body is not one member, but many” (KJV). Please know that YOU have been a part of Jacob’s amazing story. God weaving together different people like you and the technician in Latacunga has made life-changing events like Jacob’s possible.
Each slow and cautious step Jacob takes in his new walker is not only a physical reminder of his progress, but also symbolic of his growing independence. As he gains confidence in his walker, he will need to depend on others less. But each step towards autonomy is also a reminder of how Jacob could not have achieved independence without depending on the body of Christ. God used the members His body to write Jacob’s story. What a beautiful picture of God’s faithfulness being realized through the lives of many!
*Child's name has been changed to protect her privacy.
