SAN BENITO
Being in the country for the eighth time & renting a vehicle at the airport one becomes familiar with those you come in contact with. Christa Castillo has been my customer service representative at Dollar Rental (I’m the guy who wrecks their cars). This time as I went thru the leasing process Christa commented on Rotary pin on my collar. I said I was a Rotarian & our club was working on providing clean water to the people of Nicaragua. She then went on to detail the story of Francisca & Nayansi.
Nayansi was born with spina bifida, paralyzed from the waist down & the condition of Hydrocephalus which was treated early on with a drainage tube. The mother comes to the airport daily with Nayansi soliciting for money. The father left when she was 4 months pregnant after learning of the birth defect. Francisca said she has carried the child everywhere for 5 years & it is taking a toll on her health.
Coming in contact with Rotary clubs in Belize, Venezuela, & multiple clubs in Nicaragua you are always inundated with request for money, supplies to supplement their projects & since we were focused on water my answer was always no. I reached out to the Granada, Masaya, Managua & Leon Rotary clubs as well as several other organizations Gemma Cope a contact in Managua provided. No wheelchairs available to donate. Chairs specifically designed for children with these disabilities are unavailable in Nicaragua except by special order with a 12 month waiting period & are extremely expensive upwards $2500.00.