Cindy

A year ago, Phil and Donna met a little girl named Cindy Mendez. She lives with her siblings in Choluteca, and has never been very mobile. She was born with clubbed feet, and had "corrective surgery" when she was very young. Phil began visiting the 11 yr old Cindy to evaluate her case.

Cindy's ankles had wounds that were so open and deep that you could see clear to the bone. She spent most of her time sitting in the house watching and playing with her nephews. It was arranged for Cindy to go to Shriner's Hospital in Tampa, Florida, with the Waldrons. Within minutes during her first consultation, the physician told her she had osteomyelitis and both of her legs needed to be amputated, or the infection would eventually kill her.

It's been a year now since her surgery. She has been in the U.S. living with a family in Tampa for her recovery process. She was able to go to school there, and now speaks English just like a little gringa. Cindy is about to be 13 years old, and is one of the happiest, funniest, most light-hearted little girls I've ever met. She has such an incredible attitude, and is a good reminder that I have nothing to complain about!

Last week, Phil and Donna returned to Tampa to bring Cindy home. Laura and I met them in San Pedro Sula to take her home with them. I was able to do some teaching with Cindy's family about self-catheterization, her prostheses, etc., and we were able to discuss her education with the director of the school there. She is great with the prostheses, and is going to be able to keep up with the other kids for the first time in her life!

Donna, Cindy, and the lion.

She was SO excited to go home and see her family! It was such a happy day for everyone. Although, it seemed like it was going to take her a day or two to get used to being without air conditioning again!