Who is Pika?

Pika is a seriously disabled child who was required to beg in the streets of Bali for many years.

In December 2009, Pika was rescued by the Bali Street Kids Project (www.ykpa.org). Her care has required extensive treatments, many medical specialists and transports, as well as social working to help her and the other children adjust to a normal life. She endured 4 surguries in 5 months, the last was life saving. She needs ongoing medical and social care for her to become a normal kid; and donations to afford it all. Please read her story (from the bottom up
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Thursday, July 8, 2010

Out of bed !!! (and smiling again)

Wonderful news: On July 5, 2010, after some two months of lying belly-down in bed following 4 surgeries in 5 months, Pika was given the okay to go to the toilet, and use crutches to walk !!!

She had a huge smile and a look of wonderment as she started exploring the world outside of her bedroom again. She is still shakey, and can only stand up for a few minutes, but she is standing !!!

I remember her resisting using crutches when she first came to the orphanage, as we were teaching her to stop putting pressure on her seriously infected foot. Now 6 months later, the foot is gone, her spina bifida mass is gone, and she is grateful to be on crutches. She can now restart physical therapy in preparation for her prosthetic leg.

She is now quickly moving towards being a fairly normal kid for the first time ever... walking around, going to school, etc. Next step... Wayan from NGO Yayasan Yakkum Bali will return to follow her physical improvement, physical therapy, and when ready, provide her new leg.

While she was in bed these months, the orphanage was re-rented, and many renovations have almost been completed, including the girls bedrooms. Pika now has a new tiled bedroom she shares with other girls, a a new toilet room suitable to her walking around in on her knees until she is stronger.