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Survivor Stories
 Juan Antonio Carbajal - El Salvador
During El Salvador’s civil war, Juan volunteered to help his fellow countrymen as a medic in remote areas where doctors and nurses were not available. One day he heard a man screaming for help. He had just stepped on a landmine.
Others on the team refused to aid the bleeding man because he was obviously in a minefield. Juan ran to help. He was lifting the man when another landmine exploded.
The injured man died immediately and Juan lost both his legs.
Juan’s recovery was long and difficult. He spent seven years in a rehabilitation hospital. He had no money to pay for food so he learned to make small crafts, which he sold for pennies.
Before he met LSN Outreach Worker, José, Juan was deeply depressed. José understood how he felt because he was an amputee like Juan. José motivated Juan to overcome his difficulties and showed him it was possible to reach his goals. José encouraged Juan to bake and sell quesadillas as he had done at his uncle’s bakery. They developed a business plan together and LSN provided Juan a mixer and stove to get started.
Juan now bakes quesadillas and his mother sells them to workers at a nearby factory. His special recipe is quite popular and he is pleased to say that the business is doing well.
View the next profile: Santos Armindo González
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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