Lesly is an 11-year-old girl from Guatemala. She is in third grade at her primary school, and she loves to draw. Lesly knows what it is like to be sick, as she suffers from a disease in which her bones break easily. She has been further challenged by strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes which make it difficult for her to see in school. Lesly complains that often she cannot see the board in her classroom or learn in class.
Since Lesly’s other health problems prevent her from walking on her own, Lesly’s mother pushes her wheelchair to school everyday so that Lesly can continue to attend school. Her mother makes bracelets to support the household, while her father works as an agricultural day laborer. While they both work hard, her parents do not earn enough to pay for Lesly’s medical care.
Treatment for Lesly will consist of further evaluation from an eye specialist, custom-made glasses to correct her strabismus, as well as accompaniment and transportation throughout her treatment process. Glasses will allow Lesly to see clearly, enabling her to participate in family life, learn in school, and to continue to participate in activities such as drawing that she loves.
Lesly’s parents say, “We hope that she will be able to see well and learn better at school.”