(Bayone, NJ) Two-years ago Bayonne-based occupational therapist William Pakos went to Haiti in the aftermath of that nation's devastating earthquake to work with orphans who suffered horrific injuries.
Today, Pakos, 48, is executive director and founder of Children Rising, a growing nonprofit that has expanded its operations into the Dominican Republic, providing free health care and rehabilitation services to disabled children of poor families.
The organization has grown with the help of doctors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals from Bayonne, Arlington, Va., and the Dominican Republic, who volunteer their services.
"We have been blessed to have a large number of medical workers volunteer to help us," Pakos said. "But if we don't have financial support from the community we are not going to be able to continue our work."
A fundraiser held at the Casino in the Park catering house in Jersey City last month raised $3,500, he said.
Since 2010 the nonprofit -- headquartered at Pakos' practice, Bayonne Pediatric Therapy Center, 252 Broadway in Bayonne -- has been sending teams comprised of physical therapists and a speech therapist to Haiti and the Dominican Republic to assess the rehabilitation needs of disabled children between 1- and 6-years-old, Pakos said.
Once the assessment is done, these teams design a rehab regimen and recruit local medical workers to carry out the work.
The organization has also sent wheelchairs and other medical equipment to the island of Hispanola as well as distributed clothing and toys collected through charity drives in Hudson County, he said.
"Believe it or not many of the children don't have shoes," Pakos said. "They are living in total squalor."
Pakos said his "ultimate dream" is to build a state-of-the art school in San Pedro, Dominican Republic that provides education, rehabilitation and therapy services, and holistic medical services, including dental care.
"Our experience in the United States show us that early intervention is very successful in averting long-term need," Pakos said. "Our ultimate goal is improve the children's' quality of life."
Pakos also sees needs closer to home and says he hopes to start a developmental and recreational program for at-risk children in Hudson County.
(Source: nj.com)
1 comment:
Occupational therapist are really outstanding physicians who help children to regain their ability.
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