Progress Report: July 6, 2009

Driving Tijuana is always an adventure. Sidewalks with people walking along the narrow streets. We drive past buildings of every size and shape held together with colorful graffiti. Pepe and his little family live at the very end of the line. Within yards of our international fence ... Driving up the narrow one lane two way street is almost as challenging as parking on the narrow slab with a six foot drop on the drivers side. I have to hang onto my SUV as I walk the narrow ledge around the car.

Pepe was calling me and as I walked in the doorway, I found him hiding behind the door (hide-and-seek time). I always bring him a little "Hot Wheels" car, then he gets his little sister to drag out all of his cars for me to see and we play cars. Pepe's world is on the floor and that's about as low as you can get.

We talked to him about physical therapy; He said he really wanted muscles. The cost is about $15. A session and paying for a dedicated cab is about $10. Twice a week sessions, should be realistic. School's out. We'll go for it and worry about the money later. We'll see if he's determined enough to go through a P.T. program.

Later I tried to explain to him why I hadn't finished his little Go-Cart. He's seven and doesn't understand that his little cart, needs a real short turning radius, and we're looking for an additional motor to steer it by using two motors. He tends to be more patient than I am (to be held up this long is ridicules). If he would actually use this prototype cart, then we can think of a more expensive commercial unit.

He was very excited when I showed him some of my bugs from the Amazon jungle. Yep! He's a boy ... little cars and bugs.

Leaving a little boy like that, is never easy. But Pepe knows I'll be back.

Go-Cart XX Details

This is for those who have asked for more information on Pepe's "Go-Cart XX, Prototype II"

This is of course just a prototype of the final scooter. But you can get an idea of what we're going. The final will make use if relays and other electronic enhancements to make for a more efficient drive system.

Progress Report: April 26, 2009

The official name of Pepe's little scooter is Go-Cart XX, Prototype II. Youngsters like that kind of thing.

We continue making modifications on his little makeshift scooter. At this point we are again held up as he still has his cast on his strongest arm, the one he uses most. We will have to wait for a while until they take his cast off to locate the control box.

He was so excited to get out doors and drive himself around. He became sad when I told him I had to take it back for more work; At eight years old, he doesn't understand how much of a challenge it is to match him to his scooter.

Here's Pastor Von with a Pepe and his Go-Cart XX, Prototype II.





Keep praying for us as we progress on Pepe's schooling, transportation, physical therapy and scooter. He's worth the effort.

Pepe, A Very Special Little Boy!

Arthrogryposis: Simply text, or a big word, a term, a mystery, a condition. To anyone daring to love a child with Arthrogryposis ... finds a heartbreak nearby. Yep, Pepe's special.

He is eight and he didn't ask to enter this world like he has. He's bright, articulate and bouncing with energy. Unfortunately he lives in Tijuana Mexico: another country, another world. Unfortunately Pepe's small family is poor, dirt poor. Two strikes against a little boy who entered the world with eight strikes against him to begin with.

The status quo isn't going anywhere. We plan to enter the equation.

He's basically a smiling little boy of thirty-five pounds living in a small torso, with arms and legs that don't work, twisted hands and feet that can slowly draw and write. Physical therapy would have helped so much, but ...


The poor world of Tijuana doesn't lend itself to the conventional suggestions and solutions I've heard. And I've heard many.

There must be a solution somewhere, but until I find it we've committed ourselves to helping him get more independent. Mom has to be with him at all times.

Pepe needs a simple and light scooter, specially built to accommodate him. Since I know him and his condition and have studied him, I've decided to make a "prototype scooter." I'm not bad at this type of thing but I've plenty on my plate already, however Pepe's worth the stretch.

We're grateful for the hospital and staff in the United States that are trying little by little to surgically rotate his hands to a somewhat normal position. This requires periodic trips to the U.S.

He needs to be as ambulatory as possible. He needs desperately to have physical therapy.

Last week I brought down the simple wooden proto type cart and had him try it out. Boy was he excited! Sitting there on a little platform that moved him around. He wanted to go out on the sidewalk. Fact, he didn't want to get off it. Well, it's back being modified. It means money and time but the kids worth it.

We would appreciate your prayers as we go ahead a step at a time with this project. A cart like this will enable him to scoot around his small rooms as well as school, and small enough to be transported by taxi to school. Taxies can be quite an expense for a family like theirs. I've found lots of twists on this road.

Indeed Pepe needs legs even if they end up being three round ones.

Pastor von