Nogales, Sonora, Mexico —
Francisco “Kiko” Trujillo’s work supporting patients with disabilities along the U.S.-Mexico border has saved and changed thousands of lives. It’s the job that discovered him and unexpectedly became his life’s mission.
In 2008, I was contacted by Dr. Burris “Duke” Duncan, a pediatrician in Tucson, Arizona who specialized in treating children with special needs. Duncan, who was in his 70s at the time, was looking for community partners across borders to provide all-terrain wheelchairs to people who are unable to work or care for themselves due to disabilities.
When Duncan contacted Trujillo, Trujillo was confused.
“I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ I don’t know anything about medical devices,” Trujillo said.
Trujillo, an industrial engineer, was praised for his innovative work introducing safer standards to impoverished communities in Mexico. Born and raised in Nogales, Mexico, the fourth of 12 children, Trujillo had deep roots in the community. He once dreamed of becoming a doctor, but could not afford to attend medical school.
“Everyone knows Kiko and Kiko knows everyone. He and I were just playing together,” Duncan said. “[Kiko]said, ‘I’m warning you, I only stick with a job for seven years. That’s why you hired me for seven years.’
For Trujillo, the decision to team up with Duncan was a professional one, but it was also personal. His older brother was born with a congenital disease that left him missing his left hand. Trujillo said her brother ultimately thrived despite his disability, but that intervention may have helped him.
“When it comes to prosthetics and orthotics, no health program in Mexico provides these devices,” Trujillo said. “You don’t even have to look at the statistics to know how many people are out on the street using crutches or missing a leg.”
Leveraging Duncan’s medical knowledge and Trujillo’s community connections, they co-founded the nonprofit Arizona-Sonora Border Project for Inclusion, known as ARSOBO. We currently provide wheelchairs, prosthetics, hearing aids, and rehabilitation programs to low-income families in Mexico and the United States.
The group’s initial focus was on building a “Rough Rider” wheelchair. Designed by an inventor with paraplegia, the chair’s wide, flexible front wheels make it easy to roll over uneven surfaces.
“We started receiving requests for custom wheelchairs from families whose children had cerebral palsy or neuromuscular disorders,” Trujillo said. “These children need to maintain their position as they grow, so we started manufacturing customized wheelchairs.”
ARSOBO also employs employees with disabilities to fit patients with custom devices.
“We employ people who have the same disability as the device we’re going to make. The people who make the prosthesis are wearing the prosthesis,” Trujillo said. “When you take in people who have lost limbs, they’re devastated and depressed. But if you go to someone who makes prosthetics and they say, ‘I don’t have a leg, you’re going to get up and do something with your life,’ they’ll listen.”
When people come in for a fitting, technicians use their expertise and empathy to send a powerful message that these devices can help people take control of their mobility and lives.
The organization partners with manufacturers and businesses to offset material costs and works with universities to bring doctors, students and researchers across borders to provide services and training.
In 2016, ARSOBO began offering monthly audiology clinics led by faculty from the University of Arizona School of Speech and Hearing Sciences. Last year, ARSOBO moved to a new, larger facility and began offering free physical therapy to help amputees adjust to their new prosthetics.
To date, ARSOBO has served approximately 3,500 people with disabilities.
“We’ve seen people come from 10 different states and 97 different cities in Mexico. We’ve helped orphanages, children in Central America, and we’ve helped people living on the streets,” Trujillo said. “No one leaves here without what they need.”
ARSOBO has trained and employed more than 20 people with disabilities. The group has manufactured more than 820 all-terrain wheelchairs. Manufactured 900 orthotics and prosthetics. We distributed over 740 hearing aids.
Empowerment is a central part of ARSOBO’s philosophy. Trujillo and Duncan’s goal is to enable people with disabilities to support their families and build rewarding lives. Trujillo said patients are paying what they can, when they can.
Mr. Duncan, now 93, is well aware that Mr. Trujillo’s term in office has far exceeded the seven-year deadline he originally indicated.
“This is his life and he takes great joy in helping people reinvent their lives and get on with life,” Duncan said.
For Trujillo, that’s what keeps him motivated.
“We are changing lives, not just for patients, but for entire families,” Trujillo said. “We were able to involve all sectors of society on both sides and work to help people overcome the barriers they face.”
Want to get involved? Check out ARSOBO’s website to find out how you can help.
