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Honduras: dreaming of getting back on track
22-06-2012 Photo gallery
For Central American migrants who throw themselves onto trains bound for the United States as they cross Mexico, their journey holds many dangers. These include rail accidents that lead to hundreds of injuries and amputations every year. Wilmer is a 26-year-old Honduran who lost both legs and his right arm more than a year ago. He is now undergoing physical rehabilitation and longs to get his life back on track.
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Wilmer prepares the dressings that he puts on his stumps before attaching his artificial legs. Wilmer left his village Las Joyas in October 2010, bound for the United States. After crossing Guatemala, he climbed onto a train in Tenosique, in southern Mexico. This was the first in a long series of trains. "As it went round a bend the train braked and there was a noise like thunder and suddenly I was on the ground. It felt like when you get bitten by an animal." He tried to get out from under the train, but realized that he was missing an arm.
© ICRC / O. Moekli / hn-e-00068
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Wilmer prepares the dressings that he puts on his stumps before attaching his artificial legs. Wilmer left his village Las Joyas in October 2010, bound for the United States. After crossing Guatemala, he climbed onto a train in Tenosique, in southern Mexico. This was the first in a long series of trains. "As it went round a bend the train braked and there was a noise like thunder and suddenly I was on the ground. It felt like when you get bitten by an animal." He tried to get out from under the train, but realized that he was missing an arm.
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His sister Dinabel helps Wilmer attach his artificial legs. As he only recently got them, it is still a painful process. In Monterrey hospital, Wilmer discovered that he had also lost both legs. Even now, he still doesn't understand how the accident happened, after spending so many months on trains. He explains that "you get tired, because the train doesn't stop until it reaches the next state. It's the dream that kills you, not so much the hunger but the dream!"
© ICRC / O. Moekli
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His sister Dinabel helps Wilmer attach his artificial legs. As he only recently got them, it is still a painful process. In Monterrey hospital, Wilmer discovered that he had also lost both legs. Even now, he still doesn't understand how the accident happened, after spending so many months on trains. He explains that "you get tired, because the train doesn't stop until it reaches the next state. It's the dream that kills you, not so much the hunger but the dream!"
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Wilmer practises walking along the porch of his home. "The Red Cross staff told me that they were going to fit me with artificial legs," says Wilmer. Since 2009, the ICRC has been running a physical rehabilitation programme for migrants like Wilmer who are victims of accidents in Mexico. In 2011, 54 people were fitted with artificial limbs.
The rehabilitation process was a long one; he did not receive his artificial legs until one year after the accident. "The first couple of days, I put them on and I wanted to move, but I couldn't," he explains. "Then, I managed two or three steps." On the fifth day, he borrowed a crutch and went for a walk, taking it slowly.
© ICRC / O. Moekli / hn-e-00056
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Wilmer practises walking along the porch of his home. "The Red Cross staff told me that they were going to fit me with artificial legs," says Wilmer. Since 2009, the ICRC has been running a physical rehabilitation programme for migrants like Wilmer who are victims of accidents in Mexico. In 2011, 54 people were fitted with artificial limbs.
The rehabilitation process was a long one; he did not receive his artificial legs until one year after the accident. "The first couple of days, I put them on and I wanted to move, but I couldn't," he explains. "Then, I managed two or three steps." On the fifth day, he borrowed a crutch and went for a walk, taking it slowly.
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His mother María says that Wilmer has often been depressed since returning home a year ago. "He used to be very active and hardworking," she says. "Now we have to help him and he often feels useless." But since getting his artificial legs, Wilmer has shown real determination to overcome his ordeal and live as normal a life as possible. "People can learn to overcome anything, one step at a time," assures Wilmer. "Even though I fall down, and I fall down a lot, I keep trying until I succeed."
© ICRC / O. Moekli / hn-e-00059
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His mother María says that Wilmer has often been depressed since returning home a year ago. "He used to be very active and hardworking," she says. "Now we have to help him and he often feels useless." But since getting his artificial legs, Wilmer has shown real determination to overcome his ordeal and live as normal a life as possible. "People can learn to overcome anything, one step at a time," assures Wilmer. "Even though I fall down, and I fall down a lot, I keep trying until I succeed."
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Wilmer has learnt to play the guitar with his tongue because he didn't want to give up playing. His father plays several instruments and passed on his love of music to Wilmer.
© ICRC / O. Moekli / hn-e-00057
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Wilmer has learnt to play the guitar with his tongue because he didn't want to give up playing. His father plays several instruments and passed on his love of music to Wilmer.
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On horseback, Wilmer crosses the river running through the valley between his home and his farm. Wilmer lives in a remote spot in the mountains. The nearest town is 20 km away. The terrain is rocky and steep, and it will always be hard for him to get around. That's why he has to ride. His artificial legs help him keep his balance.
© ICRC / O. Moekli / hn-e-00064
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On horseback, Wilmer crosses the river running through the valley between his home and his farm. Wilmer lives in a remote spot in the mountains. The nearest town is 20 km away. The terrain is rocky and steep, and it will always be hard for him to get around. That's why he has to ride. His artificial legs help him keep his balance.
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Like his father and two brothers, Wilmer grows coffee and banana on a small scale.
"I wanted to go to the United States to carry on with this work, have a bigger farm and build myself a home," he says. "But you don't know what lies in store for you. You go with one goal, but you end up learning lessons from the journey."
© ICRC / O. Moekli / hn-e-00063
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Like his father and two brothers, Wilmer grows coffee and banana on a small scale.
"I wanted to go to the United States to carry on with this work, have a bigger farm and build myself a home," he says. "But you don't know what lies in store for you. You go with one goal, but you end up learning lessons from the journey."
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Wilmer can now perform basic tasks around the farm. Once he gets his artificial arm, he hopes that he will be able to do even more.
© ICRC / O. Moekli / hn-e-00062
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Wilmer can now perform basic tasks around the farm. Once he gets his artificial arm, he hopes that he will be able to do even more.
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His father and brother help him get on and off his horse. Wilmer still depends a great deal on his family.
© ICRC / O. Moekli / hn-e-00065
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His father and brother help him get on and off his horse. Wilmer still depends a great deal on his family.
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Wilmer talks to his father Feliciano, who massages his stump at the same time. "Since I returned, my family has helped me. Everyone has lent a hand. They've been there for me," says Wilmer. Now Wilmer is thinking about getting himself a job. "Any job I can do in my condition," he says. "I have the farm, but it's not enough. I always wanted more from life." For the moment, his biggest challenge is catching the bus.
© ICRC / O. Moekli / hn-e-00067
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Wilmer talks to his father Feliciano, who massages his stump at the same time. "Since I returned, my family has helped me. Everyone has lent a hand. They've been there for me," says Wilmer. Now Wilmer is thinking about getting himself a job. "Any job I can do in my condition," he says. "I have the farm, but it's not enough. I always wanted more from life." For the moment, his biggest challenge is catching the bus.
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Wilmer swims in the river that runs through his land. He dreams of finding work. "People sometimes say I'm mad. But I can't afford to give up. If you keep pushing yourself, anything's possible. I won't be beaten." Wilmer is sure that he can get his life back on track and find a job he can do with his artificial limbs.
© ICRC / O. Moekli / hn-e-00066
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Wilmer swims in the river that runs through his land. He dreams of finding work. "People sometimes say I'm mad. But I can't afford to give up. If you keep pushing yourself, anything's possible. I won't be beaten." Wilmer is sure that he can get his life back on track and find a job he can do with his artificial limbs.
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