Wilson Michael Urtecho Medina

My name is Michael Urtecho Medina. I am a chemical engineer, and I would like to share with you part of my life story, which has been indeed difficult; however each situation I faced since I was a child has been part of a formation process in each stage of my life.

Nowadays I realize that God has given a lot of good things. The disability I have has not been a limitation to study and excel in life; on the contrary, it was a reason to achieve what I have now. I can describe myself as a dreamer and an advocate of the rights of the disabled, and I will not rest until Peru become an entirely accessible country.

My parents, Sara Medina Aguilar and Wilson Urtecho Rodríguez, welcomed my birth on the 6th of November in 1969. I was a robust baby with a good size who weighed 3.6 kg. However, my growth was not normal because when I was 2 years old I was unable to stand up and I always fell. At the beginning, my relatives thought this was due to the overweight; however, when time passed on, and the situation did not change my parents had to take me to the doctor to find out the problem. My parents did everything possible to help me walk.

When I was 7 years old, my family received a hard blow at knowing the diagnosis given by a group of doctors from the United States who arrived in Trujillo. The doctors concluded that I had Muscle Hypotonia, a condition that weakens the muscles. One out of a million people suffers this disease. That was the reason that kept me from standing and walking.

When I was a child, I moved by dragging myself on the floor and spent time playing with my toys and marbles, unable to leave my home. It was a difficult time for my family and me since every day I saw my mother crying due to my condition.

Fortunately, God gave me sisters who are my support and happiness. They spent much of their time playing and taking care of me, sacrificing their normal activities.

My father usually came to lunch at 1 p.m. My mother picked me up onto the furniture and put the chessboard so that Dad and I would play chess. This happened from Monday to Saturday. I looked forward to every afternoon so that I could play with him. I participated at some chess contests in Trujillo and I won some local championships and also in the school.

I learned to read and write thanks to my aunt Magna (my father’s sister) who taught me at home. When I was eight years old, I passed a proficiency exam with a high score which allowed me to enter the “80006 school” (near my house) in a higher grade for those of my age level. I studied part of my primary education in the Dante Alighieri School. From the fourth grade on, I studied in the “Liceo Trujillo” School.

At school, I experienced difficult situations such as being locked in the classroom during the recess because they feared that I would fall. I was always isolated from the other children. One time, I remember that a classmate tied my hands allowing the others laugh at me.

As to the treatment for my rehabilitation, all I can say is that they were very painful. They stretched my muscles, knees and legs. My parents did everything they could to help me, but after a year there were not any positive outcome so they decided to cancel the therapy.

When I was thirteen, I was discouraged at seeing my friends (already adolescents) do things I couldn’t. Until one day, a doctor, a friend of my family, changed entirely my life. I still remember literally what he told me: “A human being is worth for his essence and for what he has in his mind and his heart”. Hereinafter, a radical change was produced in my life. Then, I ranked third in all my high school; I became more sociable and thereby I had more friends. However, I continued to have sad periods such as when I was not able to go to my class graduation travel and party.

I really wanted to become a physician. But when I had to decide what to study, I talked with my father, and he made me see that the reality of Peru wasn’t the same as in other countries where there were disabled doctors that practice, and also medical faculties were not accessible. Then my father suggested that I study chemical engineering, a career that he would have liked to study. I accepted his suggestion because it was similar to Pharmacy, which I liked.

Later, God gave me the satisfaction of studying at college and getting my degree at chemical engineering. A great memory I have is that my father taught me supplementary mathematics, and differential calculus since he was a professor at the university (for almost 31 years). I certainly made a great effort to excel in his courses.

The most difficult problem at the university was the accessibility. The labs were located on the second floor and the tables were very high but thanks to God everything went fine. I didn’t take many notes because I’d rather keep the lessons in my memory.

I ranked third in my class during all my college studies. One anecdote I have is that I studied a Master’s program with some of my former professors. This program was the first one to offer a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering at the National University of Trujillo.

My university days meant an important change in my life. I became more mature because I had new experiences and knowledge. It is the time of professional maturity when you train yourself to serve your society through a profession.

When I was 27, I was experiencing the most difficult moments in my life. I wanted to die. I was in a deep depression but I had the joy of getting to know God. I remember I was campaigning for elections. I went from church to church until I got to a Christian community called AGUA VIVA (Living Water) then located at Peru Ave. in Trujillo. Karim León Liza was the person who kindly greeted me. Now, she is my advisor. She gave me a Bible, and I sat in the last row of chairs to read. I was with two of my friends, Jorge Sandoval (who has already passed away) and Carlos Terrones (he is also a chemical engineer). I found a real and living God in the worship and praise.

I remember a funny anecdote that happened on the first day I went to that church. I saw some glasses on a well-decorated table (filled with wine) and some bread, so I told my friends: This meeting is great, they even give snacks. I was wrong. It was the Holy Supper that is traditionally served in the Evangelical Church.

From that day on, I never get apart from God. He leads my life and every step I take. I pray every morning and try to find along with my wife the Word of God reading the Bible. One of my favorite hobbies is to listen and sing Christian music, because it makes me feel relaxed, and in spiritual peace.

I have had a lot of friends but I specially remember my school friends: José Deza; Martín Flores Honores and Fidel de la Cuba (a friend who always helped me a lot by bringing me to and from school).

Also, Héctor Pastor Arrelucea, and José Deza Saavedra, both chemical engineers like me. They also moved me everywhere in a mechanical chair during my college days. They even helped me up to the laboratories on the second floor.

When I was thirty years old I met in the church the woman who is now my wife, Claudia Vanessa Gonzales Valdivia. At the beginning, she did not pay any attention to me, so, in order for her to notice me, I brought my dog with me, a Siberian that is totally white. Unfortunately, when I showed it to her she told me she did not like dogs, and left. However, I insisted because I saw in her great qualities as a person, and most of all, a woman who fears God, and that captivated my heart. I was charmed by the way she praised and sang to the Lord, and the way she preached about God.

We both decided to let God lead our relationship, and we did all He commands in His Word. First, we had a special friendship, then we grew closer, and finally became engaged. All this lasted for five years. We were not able to marry as soon as we wanted to, because I was out of work for three years; however, that difficulty made us grow closer. So, we started selling bread in the streets, peddling bread, biscuits, and muffins that Claudia made, from shop to shop in a van that we had. I used to sell paper, and showcases in El Porvenir (a poor section of the city), so we were street vendors. I believe this experience shaped our characters, by helping to leave our pride aside, and driving us to start from scratch, and teaching us to be humble.

Claudia is a gift from God for my life. She advises me, helps me, encourages me every morning, wisely corrects my mistakes. She is the perfect complement I needed in my life to reach the place I have reached so far.

Finally, I had the chance to work for different private and public companies, such as the systems area of multinational Semex from Canada; I was the head of the computers systems division of the Regional Government of La Libertad. I also worked as project manager in Cervecerías Peruanas Backus&Johnston. As a result of my work, I was able to purchase an electric wheelchair and a specially-adapted van for my personal transportation. At present, I may say proudly I am the support of my family.

I also worked as a professor teaching in different faculties in the National University of Trujillo. I used to teach Geographical Information Systems, which has to do with geographical and cartographical simulations. I sort of specialized in this topic due to the El Niño climatic phenomenon.

In 2003, thanks to the courage and perseverance that I have, I took the chance to participate in an annual project competition sponsored by the World Bank. And out of 12183 projects presented, only 25 were short-listed. The final day each candidate had to present his project before a panel of national and international experts. I got the third place, and received a prize of US$18,000 that I used to create a baker’s shop called “The daily bread from a handicapped brother”. This allowed me to give jobs only to disabled persons. Most of them are deaf or paralytic. We do not take in the blind due to the danger they would risk with the big machines. This shop is doing pretty well, being the first of its kind in my region, and probably in my country. It is wonderful to see young people who used to be unemployed and who are now working for their families. Their parents are happy, and the media have provided wide coverage. Now, two years later, the business keeps growing and there are plans to create another by the end of 2007.

But there was more. The following year I won another contest sponsored by the World Bank, with a project to promote and publicize the bakery project “The daily bread from a handicapped brother”. It was surprising even for the World Bank officials that a person could win two consecutive competitions. The World Bank Director for Latin America, Marcelo Guigale, in his speech said this project set an example for the whole world, unique for its results, and that the Bank was proud to finance this kind of work. The US$3500 prize was used to create a website for the shop, an institutional video, and publicity spots to raise awareness about the subject of disabilities.

When I was 25 I continually wondered what to do to help my fellow disabled countrymen. I could hardly sleep thinking on this, and then I had the idea, from the Lord, of sending email to different people letting them know who I was, what things I was doing, and asking them to consider the subject of disability. I sent this mail to politicians, authorities of different fields. A lot of people replied this message, one of them was the former congressional Speaker of the Parliament, Antero Flores Araoz, another was the very Alejandro Toledo (former President of Peru). But with the one I identified myself more was Rafael Rey, the president of National Renovation (a political party). I started my political career in that party, and I continue there.

He was kind enough to call me and leave a message saying he had called and leaving his mobile phone number. I was surprised that he, being a prestigious congressman, took the time to call me. I immediately called him back, and he replied saying, “Hi, champion”. I felt very well. He said he had read my letter and that he thought it was fabulous, and that he wanted to meet me and do something for the disabled. He told me he would travel to Trujillo just to meet me. At first I thought this was just a political promise (never to be fulfilled), but after three weeks, he was staying in the Tourist Hotel of Trujillo. We spent a great day together, and he communicated his values, his respect for the human being, his ethics, a lot of confidence and security. Right then my political career was born. He gave me the chance to enter politics, and on the third time I won a place in the Congress of the Republic of Peru. I have cultivated a great friendship with Rafael, and I see him as a human being rather than just a political leader. He has always helped me and defended me even in difficult circumstances.

One of my achievements has been to be elected as a Congressman of the Republic, with a great approval in my hometown, La Libertad. For the legislative term 2006-2007, I have presided over the Subcommittee on Disabled Persons, and the parliamentary league Peru – USA. I am a member of three committees: Work, Agriculture, and Health. I am a substitute member of the Transportation Committee.

I must confess that during the time here at the Congress, I have had mixed feelings about my position. On one hand, a lot of joy and hope that from my position I can do a lot of good for my disabled brothers; also a lot of excitement to see so many business people, public officials, NGO workers, so many well-meaning persons who want to undertake great projects in favor of the disabled. So much living hope in a world where sometimes we see only indifference and indolence to others’ pain. But on the other hand, I feel in my heart certain sadness for not being able to reach all these people so eager to do all the good things for the disabled, and a deep discouragement when I see some hardheartedness in other people who can not understand that disability can reach any of us, because nobody, a family member or even we ourselves, is free of the possibility to become a disabled person.

At my 38 years of age, I thought I had already overcome the most difficult moments of my life because I could prove that my disability would not shatter my dreams and goals, but I was wrong; as long as we are living, we will keep learning new things, because we go through different moments that give us joys and sorrows.

On April 14, 2008, my wife and I had the happiest day of our lives; my life made a magical and incredible turn because I became the father of two beautiful girls. I felt delighted and thanked God for giving me a long-awaited gift.

Ana Claudia and Ana Rebeca came to my life to give me their love and joy, and to enrich me as a human being, and experience sensations never felt before. And God lent me Ana Rebeca for 22 unforgettable days; that day I felt the greatest pain I have ever had; seeing how she held on to life, fighting for surviving was the hardest time for me. Doubtlessly, losing someone that is part of you is the hardest thing a man can go through. But now I know God has great purposes; I may not realize it yet, but God will let me open my eyes every day and understand one day why this happened. I now treasure life and the happy moments we share together no matter how short they are; of all the sorrows, heartaches and problems we have in life, those short happy moments make it worth keep on living.

That is why I would still be grateful to God forever if He had let me have my child for only one day, because the memories and happiness Ana Rebeca left me changed my life. Now, I thank God for my other baby girl, Ana Claudia, who is healthy, and has become the one who shapes my character, and my wife’s. She keeps filling our lives with love, happiness, and joy so that every day is a different, beautiful day, and I keep learning to use my time to be a father and congressman at the same time.

For many, I am a model, but I, Michael Urtecho Medina, do not want to be the only one having a chance to succeed, but I want the rest of my disabled brothers to have the same opportunity, to have doors open for them, and enjoy the same possibility to reach personal fulfillment, and contribute to the development of their society.

This is the story of my life, and I want to share it with you with the only purpose to let you know that in Peru we only lack opportunities. God gave them to me, and now I want to fight to give them to my disabled brothers, help me to help others…