Estefania Aybar was born in the small Dominican village of Batay Uno. By the time she was just three months old it was obvious to her family that she had special needs. At six months, Estephania was incapable of moving her legs or crawling like other babies her age. She was also unable to focus, as her eyes continuously darted back and forth.

Around that time, Estefania went to live with her aunt, Lidia Rivas, who started taking her for rehabilitation in the city of Santiago. Through rehabilitation exercises and perseverance, Estefania, with the help of Lidia, was able to learn her own version of a crawl, which was accomplished by sitting and dragging herself across the floor. As time went on, Estefania eventually gained enough strength to learn how to walk. By the time she was two and a half she was able to walk unassisted.

Unfortunately, although Estephania made great strides by learning how to walk, she was still unable to do anything else on her own. Her family had to do everything for her from brushing her teeth to bathing her. In addition, Estephania spoke very little and was inept at communicating her emotional and physical needs.

In 1994, when Estephania was five years old, Lidia received a visit from Trudy Bekker, International Child Care's DR National Director, who suggested that Lidia train to be an ICC Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) worker. As a skilled CBR worker, trained in the Portage method, Lidia would be able to further help her niece as well as other disabled children. Lidia accepted the offer immediately.

Since then, Lidia, and other ICC trained CBR workers, have been able to teach Estephania how to better care for herself. She is now able to bathe herself, change her own clothes, tie her own shoes and even do some light chores around the house including dusting and helping with the dishes.

Even though Estephania, now fourteen, still speaks and thinks at a 6-year old level, she has made remarkable developmental strides through the dedication and love of her aunt, Lidia. Estephania and her family consider International Child Care's Community Based Rehabilitation program as a gift from heaven.