Free Medical Services to Belize District Courtesy Medical Wings International

Over the past week, Medical Wings International and American Airlines have been assisting the neediest in the Belize District with free medical care. Hundreds of residents formed lines at the Saint John’s College campus over the course of the six days to consult medical professionals on matters related to their physical health and to receive free medication. The one week clinic concluded with a handing over ceremony where two teenagers received much needed wheelchairs. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Two teenagers from the Belize District who are paraplegic can now move around with greater freedom after receiving brand new wheelchairs courtesy Medical Wings International and American Airlines. At birth, eighteen-year-old Mary Reyes was diagnosed with three different conditions. Despite her challenges, she successfully completed primary school at the top of her class. She is now a second form student at Ladyville Technical High School.

Mary Reyes

Mary Reyes, Wheel Chair Recipient

“I was born with three conditions, Hydrocephalus, myelomeningocele and club feet. But, right now the club feet has been corrected. My journey through primary school, not going to lie, was challenging. But, thank god to all the teachers, they had helped me in accomplishing when I don’t understand something they were there to explain it to me. I didn’t do the whole first year of school. I didn’t do the whole year of infant one, only like third term. Thankfully to my mom who always use to go and get my work from teachers and I was able to do it, because I had surgery in infant one. My teachers in high school they are awesome teachers to me, my principal, everyone just lovely.”

Paul Lopez

“What would you say is the mindset you have to have to go through all these challenges and still become as successful as you have been?”

Mary Reyes

“The mindset is never give up. There are many challenges life will throw at you, but you have to look at it in a positive way, like maybe today is not as good as I want it to be, but just hope for it to change, or just accept it as a bad day as it is, and try to have well ok maybe tomorrow is going to be a better day.”

Natasha Kingston was moved to tears at the fact that her daughter Nazaree, a scoliosis patient, is now better equipped for playtime with her sisters.  Nazaree has suffered with the ailment all her life which has made her fully reliant on her mother’s care. And, without a wheelchair for the past seven years, Ms. Kingston has had to carry Nazaree in her arms everywhere she goes.

Natasha Kingston

Natasha Kingston, Mother of Wheelchair Recipient

“It just means that I don’t have carry her as much and she can sit outside, and her sisters can take her around in the yard and play with her now that she got a new wheelchair. They are happy they can move her around more and play with her outside as I mentioned. They have always asked to have her outside. We would just take a mattress or a sheet in the living room and have her on the floor. Now she can sit up in her wheel chair. We have a wheelchair, but she outgrew it about seven years ago. So, from then I have been carrying her around.”

Founder of Medical Wings International, Glenda Johnson, and her team of volunteers have been providing medical services to over forty nations for the last three decades. They have been carrying out this work with the support of American Airlines.

Glenda Johnson

Glenda Johnson, Founder/President, Medical Wings International

“The best part of it is seeing the happiness of their family, because in the instance where we just completed providing wheelchairs, it mobilizes the families. They don’t have to carry the kid anymore. They actually have something to carry the kid in. So that is something special to me, and providing glasses, especially for the younger.”

Kim Flowers

Kim Flowers, Account Manager, American Airlines

“When I see so many people in need, this whole clinic showed me that there are a lot of people in need and it makes me know that we complain about the small things, but there are so many people that needs care, and love and compassion. And, this clinic really and truly opened my eyes to so many things. It shifted me, because I use to be a person into material things. But, that doesn’t matter anymore, because there are people that are sincerely in need, and that is where my heart is right now.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez