Getting ready for the trip to Guatemala

We are getting ready to go to Guatemala on Tuesday and then to Huehuetenango, on Sunday, July 5th. Last week we tested the Eagle Eyes System and everything seems to be in working order and we also have the Staggered Speech program customized for Spanish phrase input.

During our testing with the system, and while trying to simulate a person with no motor skills and only eye control, we realized how difficult it is to communicate with others, even when using the system. We also realized that it will take time for Mirna to get used to using the system and begin taking full advantage of it in order to communicate with her family and friends. We will all have to be patient and hopeful to see positive results and encourage Mirna as well to keep trying.

We continue to thank everybody in ADTRAN that provided their support for this cause and we know they will be blessed many times over for their generosity.

Below is a quick summary of the funds collected and how the money has been used:

-Total Collected: US$2,066

-Donation made to OFOA for the Eagle Eyes System on behalf of ADTRAN employees: US$1,200

-Electrode Spectra Gel (6 pack): US$33.99

-Surgical Tape to hold electrodes in place (12 pack): US$25.43

- AT&T Voices (Spanish): US$40.00

-Total Used Up to Date: US$1299.42

Balance: US$766.58

**Another $45 came in on 6/29 totalling US$811.45

We will continue to update this blog in order to post how the remaining balance will be used to help Mirna's family with day to day expenses and also to assist setting up the working area for her and the system.

Once again, may God bless you all for your support and keep Mirna in your prayers so that she will take full advantage of the system.

Testing the Eagle Eyes System

This past week we received the Eagle Eyes systems from OFOA and we also received more donations from more generous ADTRAN employees totaling up to $1730.

We will be testing the system over the weekend to make sure everything is in place and making sure we are able to configure it for Mirna's needs in Guatemala. We are also almost finished with the modified (in Spanish and with Phrase input) StaggeredSpeech program for Mirna to be able to type phrases instead of just letters.

On the next post we will have detailed accounting on how the funds have been spent up to date.

Once again, thanks to everybody that has contributed to this effort and in the next weeks we should be able to begin using the system with Mirna and post how she is progressing and responding.

Mirna's Story

In 2005, Mirna Maria Guadalupe Ramos, who currently resides in Huehuetenango, Guatemala suffered a devastating stroke during what would have been a routine medical procedure. As a result, her cerebral cortex was damaged making her completely paraplegic and lacking any motor skills. Since that time, she has been completely paralyzed and is only able to move her eyes. A group of friends had been looking for any means and ways in which they might be able to improve her life condition, even if it was just marginally. As a result, they discovered a non-profit organization that has developed a tool called “Eagle Eyes” (http://www.eagleeyes.org/) that allows people with serious handicaps and physical limitations to move a computer mouse with the simple movement of their eyes or other facial expressions.

The organization is called “The Opportunity Foundation of America”
(http://www.ofoa.net/Default.aspx) and they are associated with Boston College, who jointly developed the system.

During the month of June, a collection was conducted in ADTRAN , in Huntsville, Alabama, with overwhelming response allowing them to purchase/donate the cost of the system ($1,200) and more. So far a total of $1,573 has been collected, plus a laptop and a flat screen monitor.

This summer, they will be travelling to Guatemala and they will be setting the system up and train her family on how to use it. They are convinced that this will represent a huge improvement in the quality of her life since it would allow her to express her needs and perhaps most importantly, her emotions. It would likewise help to relieve her family of a great burden on trying to interpret what she is trying to say. The doctors tell us that she is fully conscious and can hear and smell and see, however she has been inside a physical prison ever since that faithful day back in 2005 and is not able to communicate in any way with her family. Now, she will have a chance to say a simple "hello" back, and it will be incredible for both her and all of us that know and love her.

Due to Guatemala's macroeconomic situation and her family financial situation, a system like this would be simply out of reach for a middle class family for Guatemalan standards and therefore would not be affordable without the help of organizations such as OFOA, Boston College and the people of ADTRAN.

We will be updating this blog as often as possible to keep you posted on her progress and we will also be updating the way the funds are being utilized.

May God bless you all!