Three stories, one heart: choosing to sponsor a child at CRISMA
At CRISMA, every child who comes through our doors carries a story shaped by challenge, courage, and quiet determination. Sponsoring a child is not about rescuing or fixing someone. It is about walking alongside them, supporting their rehabilitation journey, and becoming part of a family’s ongoing story of resilience and hope.
Recently, CRISMA received a heartfelt request from someone wishing to sponsor a child. In response, Doña Marta, our co-founder, shared three profiles. Each child’s path is different, yet all three reflect the heart of CRISMA’s mission: compassionate rehabilitation, family-centered care, and long-term support rooted in dignity.
Below, we share their stories so you can understand not only their needs, but also their strength.
Angel: preserving movement and nurturing hope
Angel is 11 years old and lives with congenital multiple arthrogryposis, a condition that affects his joints and mobility. His treatment focuses on preserving the movement he has, because for Angel, every bit of mobility matters.
He cannot walk independently and uses a wheelchair, yet one of his greatest personal achievements is learning how to ride a bike. It is a powerful reminder of his determination and spirit. Due to a significant curvature in his spine, there are no surgical options that can guarantee further improvement. This curvature also limits the space his lungs need to fully expand, making breathing exercises a fundamental part of his therapy.
Angel also lives with arthritis, which causes joint deformities and contractures. Beyond his medical challenges, his family faces ongoing hardship. After their home was flooded in 2021, they moved in with extended family and are still waiting for repairs to be completed. His father, who has a similar condition, once worked in construction but now supports the family as a trader.
Sponsoring Angel helps ensure continuity of care, supporting his physical therapy, respiratory exercises, and overall quality of life, while also easing the burden on a family doing everything they can with limited resources.
Lupito: progressing forward, step by step
Lupito is 7 years old and full of joy, curiosity, and life. Just a few years ago, his world changed suddenly after a severe neuroinfection led to meningoencephalitis. In a matter of days, his entire family had to learn how to live with a new reality.
When Lupito first arrived at CRISMA, he could not sit up, roll over, or crawl. He could barely hold his head up. He had a tracheostomy and was fed through a tube directly into his stomach. He depended entirely on others for every daily activity.
Today, his progress is deeply moving. Lupito no longer has a tracheostomy and can eat by himself. He has gained strength in his trunk, legs, and abdomen, and little by little, he has begun maintaining a standing position. Each milestone reflects months of patient, consistent rehabilitation.
His next goal is to use a walker and take his first independent steps. Sponsorship for Lupito directly supports the intensive therapy needed to continue building on the progress he has worked so hard to achieve.
Elia: growing independence with family support
Elia lives with hydrocephalus and has made steady progress through ongoing therapy and strong family involvement. With the help of assistive devices and continued rehabilitation, she has achieved functional independence with support, allowing her to move through daily life with growing confidence.
Her father works as a taxi driver to support the family and brings Elia to CRISMA for her therapy sessions. Her mother stays with her throughout treatment and also receives psychological support at CRISMA, because caring for caregivers is an essential part of holistic rehabilitation.
Elia attends a special school, something that brings her great happiness and a sense of belonging. Continued therapy helps her maintain mobility, strengthen her walking ability with a walker, and preserve the independence she has gained.
Sponsoring Elia means supporting not only physical progress, but emotional well-being and family stability.
What child sponsorship truly means at CRISMA
Child sponsorship at CRISMA is not a one-time act of charity. It is a relationship built on trust, consistency, and shared humanity. Sponsorship helps cover essential rehabilitation therapies, specialized equipment, and family support services that are often inaccessible to families living far from San Miguel de Allende or facing financial limitations.
More than anything, sponsorship sends a simple but powerful message to a child and their family: you are not alone.
Choosing with compassion and intention
There is no right or wrong choice among these three children. Angel, Lupito, and Elia each represent why CRISMA exists: to provide compassionate, long-term pediatric rehabilitation in Mexico, grounded in respect, care, and love.
Whichever child a sponsor chooses, they become part of something deeply meaningful: a journey measured not only in physical milestones, but in dignity, confidence, and human connection.
If you feel called to walk alongside one of these children, we welcome you with open arms.
FAQs
1. What does child sponsorship at CRISMA actually support?
Child sponsorship at CRISMA helps cover essential rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, specialized treatment plans, assistive equipment, and ongoing evaluations. It also supports families by reducing the financial strain of long-term care and, when needed, includes emotional and psychological support for caregivers.
2. How does CRISMA decide which children are eligible for sponsorship?
Children are identified based on medical need, family circumstances, and the importance of consistent therapy for long-term progress. CRISMA works closely with families to ensure sponsorship directly supports a child’s rehabilitation goals and complements the care already being provided through our programs.
3. How does sponsorship make a long-term difference for a child?
Rehabilitation progress depends on consistency. Sponsorship allows children to continue therapy without interruption, helping them maintain mobility, build strength, and work toward greater independence. Over time, this stability can significantly improve the quality of life and support a child’s ability to participate more fully in daily activities.
4. Are families involved in their child’s rehabilitation process?
Yes. Family involvement is central to CRISMA’s approach. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate in therapy sessions, learn exercises to continue at home, and receive guidance and emotional support. Strengthening the family unit is an essential part of a child’s rehabilitation journey.
5. How does CRISMA ensure dignity and respect in child sponsorship?
CRISMA approaches sponsorship with humility and care. Children and families are never portrayed as charity cases, but as partners in a shared journey. We prioritize transparency, informed consent, and respectful storytelling that honors each child’s resilience and humanity.