VGo helps Student with Lymphoma Return to School

SAN ANTONIO, TX

Matthew Vasquez is a fifteen-year-old freshman that has been unable to go to school since January because of his lymphoma diagnosis. But now, because of a technology originally intended to bring doctors into the operating room from thousands of miles away, Matthew is ready to come back to school.

"It's really cool, its awesome because I really miss coming to school and seeing my teachers and friends, now with the robot I can," said Matthew. These special robots are remote controlled by the student so that they can hear, see, and move around the classroom, in the lunchroom and between classes with their peers.

"They can actually use (the robot) for four hours a day and be with their peers and be with their friends and get their schooling," said Kip Robins, systems engineer with the Region 6 Education Service Center. "So when they do get ready to go back into the classroom, they're right with their class."

Kip Robins, said that 18 months ago they started using wireless communication robots to help kids that were sick and could no longer attend classes.

"To be able to help somebody, to be able to change somebody's life is huge, and all it is is technology," Robins says.

Now Matt can attend classes, interact with teachers, talk to friends and classmates and once again go back to school from his own living room. "It makes my day 10 times better just seeing everyone," he says.

"He tells me everyday, 'Ask the doctor if I can go back. I can wear a mask. I can do this,'" said Leo Vasquez, Matthew Vasquez's father. "So just knowing now that he can participate daily with his classmates and his teachers, it means a lot to us."

Matthew Vasquez said he had been taking home homework packets and e-mailing back and forth with teachers, but he says to attend class this way is so much better.

"It just really lifts my spirits," Vasquez said. "Now I can see everybody, everyday. So, it's real nice."

Kip says that there are 26 robots in service now in TX, and Matt's robot, who he named Kawhi because he's such a huge Spurs fan, makes number 27. The robots are really starting to be noticed state wide, including right here in south Texas.

"We're really excited about it. We think there are a lot of possibilities for serving students that are out of school temporarily," said Cindy Miller, Educational Specialist with Region 20.

And for one young man, he couldn't be happier that someone took the time to reach out and help him return to a life he missed so much.

 

AN ANTONIO -- Matthew Vasquez is a fifteen-year-old freshman that has been unable to go to school since January because of his lymphoma diagnosis. But now, because of a technology originally intended to bring doctors into the operating room from thousands of miles away, Matthew is ready to come back to school. "It's really cool, its awesome because I really miss coming to school and seeing my teachers and friends, now with the robot I can," said Matthew. Kip Robins, who was in town last week for a conference, happens to work at Region 6 in the Education Service Center. 18 months ago they started using wireless communication robots to help kids that were sick and could no longer attend classes. He immediately contacted the school and today, Matthew met the robot for the very first time. Robins says "To be able to help somebody, to be able to change somebody's life is huge, and all it is is technology." Now Matt can attend classes, interact with teachers, talk to friends and classmates and once again go back to school from his own living room. "It makes my day 10 times better just seeing everyone," he says. Kip says that there are 26 robots in service now, and Matt's robot, who he named Kawhi because he's such a huge Spurs fan, makes number 27. The robots are really starting to be noticed state wide, including right here in south Texas. "We're really excited about it. We think there are a lot of possibilities for serving students that are out of school temporarily," said Cindy Miller, Educational Specialist with Region 20. And for one young man, he couldn't be happier that someone took the time to reach out and help him return to a life he missed so much.

Read More at: http://www.news4sanantonio.com/template/cgi-bin/archived.pl?type=basic&file=/news/features/top-stories/stories/archive/2014/04/44UgmmuK.xml#.U3TXUijLwhB
SAN-- Matthew Vasquez is a fifteen-year-old freshman that has been unable to go to school since January because of his lymphoma diagnosis. But now, because of a technology originally intended to bring doctors into the operating room from thousands of miles away, Matthew is ready to come back to school. "It's really cool, its awesome because I really miss coming to school and seeing my teachers and friends, now with the robot I can," said Matthew. Kip Robins, who was in town last week for a conference, happens to work at Region 6 in the Education Service Center. 18 months ago they started using wireless communication robots to help kids that were sick and could no longer attend classes. He immediately contacted the school and today, Matthew met the robot for the very first time. Robins says "To be able to help somebody, to be able to change somebody's life is huge, and all it is is technology." Now Matt can attend classes, interact with teachers, talk to friends and classmates and once again go back to school from his own living room. "It makes my day 10 times better just seeing everyone," he says. Kip says that there are 26 robots in service now, and Matt's robot, who he named Kawhi because he's such a huge Spurs fan, makes number 27. The robots are really starting to be noticed state wide, including right here in south Texas. "We're really excited about it. We think there are a lot of possibilities for serving students that are out of school temporarily," said Cindy Miller, Educational Specialist with Region 20. And for one young man, he couldn't be happier that someone took the time to reach out and help him return to a life he missed so much.
SAN ANTONIO -- Matthew Vasquez is a fifteen-year-old freshman that has been unable to go to school since January because of his lymphoma diagnosis. But now, because of a technology originally intended to bring doctors into the operating room from thousands of miles away, Matthew is ready to come back to school. "It's really cool, its awesome because I really miss coming to school and seeing my teachers and friends, now with the robot I can," said Matthew. Kip Robins, who was in town last week for a conference, happens to work at Region 6 in the Education Service Center. 18 months ago they started using wireless communication robots to help kids that were sick and could no longer attend classes. He immediately contacted the school and today, Matthew met the robot for the very first time. Robins says "To be able to help somebody, to be able to change somebody's life is huge, and all it is is technology." Now Matt can attend classes, interact with teachers, talk to friends and classmates and once again go back to school from his own living room. "It makes my day 10 times better just seeing everyone," he says. Kip says that there are 26 robots in service now, and Matt's robot, who he named Kawhi because he's such a huge Spurs fan, makes number 27. The robots are really starting to be noticed state wide, including right here in south Texas. "We're really excited about it. We think there are a lot of possibilities for serving students that are out of school temporarily," said Cindy Miller, Educational Specialist with Region 20. And for one young man, he couldn't be happier that someone took the time to reach out and help him return to a life he missed so much.

Read More at: http://www.news4sanantonio.com/template/cgi-bin/archived.pl?type=basic&file=/news/features/top-stories/stories/archive/2014/04/44UgmmuK.xml#.U3TXUijLwhB
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