After an extended period in the U.S., Cristina Macario Morales, 13, is returning to her village in Chiqua Dos, Guatemala.

She originally came to Warsaw to have surgery because she had spina bifida. Dr. Gary Pitts met her in her village while on a missionary trip.

Pitts knew Cristina had to have the surgery or face paralysis during puberty. Because of spina bifida, Cristina's spinal cord was essentially caught up in tissue and fat holding it down to the spinal column. Once she began a growth spurt, without surgery, the spinal cord would not have moved and therefore become damaged.

Cristina underwent the surgery in April. She is going home Thursday She was supposed to have left in May with her father Timoteo.

"She was not ready to go back from a physical therapy standpoint," said Pitts. He said Timoteo was in tears when he learned of all he would have had to do for her on a regular basis to prevent her condition from returning. Since Timoteo and his wife Maria are both away from the home much of the day to work, her physical therapy would have been neglected.

Drs. K.T. and Anita Kishan opted to let her stay with them while she underwent physical therapy. Laura and Steve Kasper also had Cristina in their home when the Kishans had personal matters or work to attend to. And everyone enjoyed having her, they said.

"She was just a blessing," said Laura.

Anita said, "I think we got a lot more out of her than she got out of us."

The assistance and physical therapy Cristina received helped her to develop. She can use her braces and crutches to walk. She can also go without those for short period of times.

"In the beginning," said Anita, "I use to have to do everything for her because she wasn't standing on her own. Through a lot of tears and hard work, she can do a lot of stuff on her own."

Anita credited much of Cristina's progress to physical therapist Jennifer Kyser.

"The physical therapist at KCH was wonderful. She worked with her the last few months. Now, (Cristina) can climb hillsides, which is very important for her," Anita said.

Guatemala has very rugged terrain.

Cristina's physical strength isn't the only improvement she made in her five month stay. "She has learned English. She understands pretty much everything we say," said Anita.

The Pitts family, the Kishans and the Kasper family have also taken Cristina to various destinations in the U.S.. She went to Virginia Beach, Chicago, Six Flags Great America, the zoo, Paige's Crossing and other places.

"We try to give her experiences that would be big in American standards," said Pitts. "The thing of it is that it's like hyperbola upon hyperbola. It's like living in Disneyland."

Despite all the adventures, Cristina will be happily returning to Guatemala in five days.

"She's really anxious to go back," said Laura.

Dr. Pitts said, "Our hearts keep getting lower and lower."

Pitts will accompany her back to Guatemala. And once she gets back to her home,

Pitts said she will have to continue the physical exercises she learned in Warsaw. If she doesn't, he said there's a chance she could slip back to her former condition. Cristina has been taught what to do and what to watch out for.

"Up to this point," said Pitts, "there's things about Guatemala she misses because that's home. But eventually, she'll miss things she took for granted here."

Sally DeWald said, "I think it's people she's going to miss most." DeWald helped organize Cristina's stay in Warsaw.

Pitts said the group that went down to Guatemala and first met her will continue to visit her village every year. They want to check on her progress and make sure she stays healthy.

"We'll evaluate her yearly from a medical standpoint," he said. He said if she ever needs more surgery, they may bring her back to the United States. And they want to make sure she receives an education.

"What we're committed to is giving her as much education as she needs to support herself without her having to do labor," said Pitts. "We'll put her through college if we need to."

Cristina's stay could not have been made completely possible without the help and support of the community.

"There were individuals as well as businesses who have stepped up to the plate to help," said DeWald. [[In-content Ad]]