Stories From The Field
Estefania Aybar
Estefania
Aybar was born in the small Dominican village of Batay Uno. By the
time she was just three months old it was obvious to her family
that she had special needs. At six months, Estephania was incapable
of moving her legs or crawling like other babies her age. She was
also unable to focus, as her eyes continuously darted back and forth.
Around that time, Estefania went to live with her aunt, Lidia Rivas,
who started taking her for rehabilitation in the city of Santiago.
Through rehabilitation exercises and perseverance, Estefania, with
the help of Lidia, was able to learn her own version of a crawl,
which was accomplished by sitting and dragging herself across the
floor. As time went on, Estefania eventually gained enough strength
to learn how to walk. By the time she was two and a half she was
able to walk unassisted.
Unfortunately, although Estephania made great strides by learning
how to walk, she was still unable to do anything else on her own.
Her family had to do everything for her from brushing her teeth
to bathing her. In addition, Estephania spoke very little and was
inept at communicating her emotional and physical needs.
In 1994, when Estephania was five years old, Lidia received a visit
from Trudy Bekker, International Child Care's DR National Director,
who suggested that Lidia train to be an ICC Community Based Rehabilitation
(CBR) worker. As a skilled CBR worker, trained in the Portage method,
Lidia would be able to further help her niece as well as other disabled
children. Lidia accepted the offer immediately.
Since then, Lidia, and other ICC trained CBR workers, have been
able to teach Estephania how to better care for herself. She is
now able to bathe herself, change her own clothes, tie her own shoes
and even do some light chores around the house including dusting
and helping with the dishes.
Even though Estephania, now fourteen, still speaks and thinks at
a 6-year old level, she has made remarkable developmental strides
through the dedication and love of her aunt, Lidia. Estephania and
her family consider International Child Care's Community Based Rehabilitation
program as a gift from heaven.
