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Survivor Stories
 Edgar Moreno - Colombia
When Edgar was 16 he started to work on a cattle farm. One day, as he was he was carrying the milk from the freshly milked cows, he stepped on a landmine. His friend, hearing the noise of the explosion, ran to him and took him to the health center for emergency care.
Edgar then needed to be taken to a hospital in the nearest city, but guerrilla forces had mined the territory a few days before, including a bridge that connected the town to the nearest city. So, it took more than 18 hours to get a farmer to take Edgar in a truck. Even then, guerrillas stopped the truck because they thought Edgar was a wounded government soldier and they wanted to kill him. Fortunately, the owner of the truck explained the situation and he and Edgar were allowed to continue on their journey. Two days later they arrived at the hospital and his leg was immediately amputated.
Edgar had a difficult recovery. His health prior to the accident had not been very good and he experienced much physical pain and mental anguish, often feeling that death was his best option. But his belief in God gave him the strength, optimism, and hope to enable him to face his new reality, although this took some time. When he returned home he hid himself because he didn’t want anyone to see and pity him. His mother and brothers didn't know how to treat the depth of his despair. To make matters worse, a landmine killed Edgar’s older brother, as well as a friend who had tried to rescue him.
In 1992, the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) helped Edgar travel to Bogotá so that he could enter a rehabilitation program at CIREC (Foundation for Reconstructive Surgery). With the help of CIREC, family, and friends, Edgar started a musical group, studied painting, and trained for, competed, and won bicycle competitions. In 1997, he entered the "On the Job Training Program" at CIREC to become a technician. He is a member of CIREC's association of patients and he is the leader of the "Hope Seeds Program", a CIREC program about disabled people helping themselves. Edgar has married another disabled woman and they have a baby girl. He helps support his mother as well. Edgar wants to start a small community business in chocolate.
View the next profile: José Dámaso Abrego
Less than 10 percent of landmine survivors have access to proper medical care and rehabilitation. Please visit our Donate Now section and see what you can do to help landmine survivors around the world.
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