Step by step through my daily routine
Listening to the daily news these days, I’ve been thinking a lot about the children in Ethiopia. Since 2017, Mary’s Meals is active in Ethiopia’s northern parts, in the Tigray region, which is currently in the focus of the escalating conflicts. Now even the connection to Mary’s Meals’ Ethiopian partners, the “Daughters of Charity” has been cut. Ethiopia declared a six-months state of emergency and there are power outages of electricity, internet and telecommunication services. I feel deeply sorry for this country. Even before the conflicts it has been heavily affected by the Corona pandemic. Mary’s Meals was a true safety net to many people. And as always, children are the most vulnerable in such a situation. Mary’s Meals will continue their work, no matter the circumstances. Let’s hope the situation is changing soon. In any case, I want to keep running, especially for these children! Thanks to your massive support we were able to collect a budget to feed more than 4.000 children! (Remember, my initial goal was to help 500 kids) I can and will not stop here – not now where so many children are suffering. I will keep up running until Christmas. Support me here: marysmeals.org/Felix
My daily routine includes regular visits to the therapy centre “Neuron” in Egelsbach, near Frankfurt, where there is a very familiar atmosphere. Mr. Preisler, the boss, as he is called by all the employees and also now by me, is not only the manager, but also an exceptionally gifted physiotherapist, who puts his heart and soul into his work.
The whole thing is a bit like a family. One of the ladies at reception is married to the brother of the boss. My occupational therapist is married to his son, and so it seems that an amazing number of people there have the surname “Preisler”… Overall, women are in the majority there. Which of course doesn’t worry me a bit! I spend 30 to 45 minutes in the gait trainer, which is called “Lyra”. With preparations and disassembling and putting on the leg braces, the whole thing takes about an hour. Either before or afterwards I am exercised on a therapy bench, which can be very painful.
During occupational therapy I get air cushion splints put on my arms, which can be pumped up to varying strengths to send feedback to my arms. In this way they can lower the tonus. Tonus means the basic tension in my muscles, at least that’s what I think it means… Alternatively the therapist drives a device, which produces magnetic vibrations, up and down my arm.
From time to time I am also put in a knee stand, which the boss calls the kneeler. He first asked me what religion I was, and when I answered “Catholic”, he said “Great, me too. So that fits well.” On the so-called kneeler I am on my knees and support myself with my arms, my back is free and stretched, which it otherwise never is. Usually I am either in my wheelchair or I am lying on my back in bed…
After a morning like that in the therapy centre I am always completely worn out and look forward to my lunch at home!
By the way: Many of the schoolchildren in our project countries, even the young kindergarten children, often have to cover really long commutes of sometimes 5km to their schools, on fairly rough roads, mostly barefoot. Looking forward to a proper meal is a great motivation for them to take the burden of their long commute to school.
If you have a chance, please help by donating — perhaps even with a monthly standing order? So that we can keep our promise to the children. By the way, Mary’s Meals does not offer sponsorships for individual children, as the support service and the reporting requirements would be too expensive.
Mary’s Meals — a simple solution to world hunger.
Together we can change things! Tell as many people as possible about Mary’s Meals and if you would like to support my campaign with a donation: marysmeals.org/Felix
Mary’s Meals is an international children’s charity that currently provides over 1.6 million children in 19 of the poorest countries of the world with a daily life-changing school meal. 18,30 € is enough to feed one child for a whole year.
