Child of the Month
By Rich Petersen
Angélica Gallardo Ayala

     This monthís article introduces one of our "children" who lives at Amor en Acción (Brazos Extendidos)-"Love in Action-Outstretched Arms"-in Chapala. Amor en Acción is a shelter/home for children from dysfunctional/abusive family situations at Lakeside. The home is run by volunteers, Mexican and foreign, and is home to 30+ children at this time. 
     Niños Incapacitados has become involved with helping cover medical expenses for some of these children. Since all are from homes where much of what one would consider day-to-day attention and care is lacking or non-existent, many of the children are in need of medical procedures, physical and speech therapy to help them adjust to life in the more "normal" atmosphere that Amor en Acción provides.
      Angélica is one of those children. She is the second oldest of four siblings, all of whom live at the shelter in Chapala. Their mother lacks any enthusiasm and interest in caring for her children, and Angélica’s oldest sister was "delegated" to try to care for the children on her own. Ang?lica is now 15 but functions mentally as an 8-or 9-year old due to lack of parental (or other adult) stimulation and attention. 
     When she arrived at Amor en Acción she could not speak except in what was determined to be "her own" language, and her younger 2-year old sister was speaking in the same fashion, logically imitating her older sister with whom she spent a lot of time.
      In addition to her speech problems, Angélica also needed special orthopedic shoes to correct a deformity in both her feet. Niños Incapacitados has purchased the shoes for her, and now Angélica is much more able to walk without falling or tripping. She goes to physical and speech therapy three times a week at the DIF center in Chapala, also paid for by Niños Incapacitados. At our last monthly meeting when Angélica paid us a visit, she was able to walk by herself across the room and upon leaving, said "gracias" (a word she has just learned to say).
      The monthly meetings of Niños Incapacitados are now on "summer hiatus" until September, so watch for notice about resumption of our meetings and please join us to know more about what we do. Niños Incapacitados is planning a full fall/early winter schedule of events to raise funds to continue helping the more than 150 children who are registered with us.
      For more information about Amor en Acción-Brazos Extendidos, contact them at 766-2549 (Dr. Martha Nussegen), or clubdeninos@­hotmail.com, or visit their website www.lovein­actioncenter.org. As always, Niños Incapacitados can be contacted at 765-5511 or info@ programaninos.org.