A Few Bumps on the Head

A few bumps on the head.
Krista Wells

A day for the members of ICC begins as the others do with a hefty breakfast (mostly of PBJ sandwiches) followed by an intense ride on the guaguas (minivan converted into a pile-them-in passenger van) into the heart of Santiago. The record for an ICC guagua ride is now up to 29 adult passengers + 1 child +1 suitcase, which we counted as a small child. The driver allows us to unload the team at the “Bacardi sign” where we try to avoid hitting our heads on the door frame of a guagua (something I struggle with daily!) Next is our mile walk to ICC past speeding cars, motos and buses, and avoiding near off curb accidents that keep us on our toes throughout the journey. When we arrive at ICC the women there give us hugs and besos on the right check followed by a large smile and “Buen Dia”. Their energy and joy is a refreshing and inviting to begin the work day! It is then time to drive, meet and treat the kids who live in various communities of Santiago.


Each day with ICC has been very different. One day we drove from home to home to evaluate children who are unable to leave their homes. While the next day we wait in a small community church where 5 to 7 families show up because they hear we were coming and want advice for their children. The homes and rooms are often small and slightly dirty but despite the size of their homes and community spaces the hearts of the children and their care takers surly out weigh the deficit of material space. Today one of the kids was especially amazing to work with. We were in a community building of ICC in a community names 100 Fires (I am unsure of the history for the name at this point). The boy who touched my heart was 11 years old and shows definite signs of cerebral palsy due to his mother becoming ill during pregnancy. He was also deaf. Upon meeting him he mouthed “Hola” to all of us and when it was his turn to been evaluated he had the World’s Largest Smile on his face. Despite his limitations with controlled movement and hearing he had a blast mimicking and playing with us. During stretches for his very tight hamstrings he taught us sign language for “number”, “enough” and “bueno”. He even helped us out so we knew when to stop holding the stretch. His excitement to play and his intelligence really count me off guard. His love for life was amazing especially with his interactions with new people whom he had never met and who made him practice moving in positions he had probably never achieved before.


The kids we have met during our adventures with ICC have been sad yet enlightening and hopeful. The women of this organization are amazing and we praise them for their work and fearlessness with these very difficult children. Although our mornings are filled with cultural shocks and fun rides the kids on the other side are so worth getting a few bruises on the head from clumsy exits off the guagua.