By Jaci Coningham | Social media manager
As we start 2017, we look back at our efforts from 2016 and celebrate our accomplishments.
We closed 2016 with 165 children enrolled in our Infant Nutrition Program. This program is specially important for children with a cleft lip and a cleft palate because, due to this birth defect, breastfeeding is compromised and malnourishment becomes a reality. Without proper strength and body weight, many children would have to be turned down for their life changing surgery. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the wonderful people joining as volunteers and partner organizations, however, children in Guatemala receive the treatment they need, from nutrition, to surgery, to follow ups, to speech therapies, to a new smile.
Sandra, mother of the adorable Daniela, was afraid her daughter would not survive due to her cleft lip and palate. When she visited our Mobile Medical Mission in Panzos, however, Daniela was enrolled in the Infant Nutrition Program and was able to gain 5 pounds in one month, and her surgery was scheduled for last November. Sandra was very happy to find us and she knew that she would be able to be the proud mom she always wanted to be.
In our nutrition porgram we also met Dulce, a girl among four brothers. Her family was no stranger to us. Her brother Julio was also born with a cleft lip and palate and we performed his two surgeries 5 years ago. The family came from a house with no electricity and the only water available was from the rain; with only trails and no roads, the closest health clinic was a one-and-a-half hour walk. Dulce was a tiny girl, arriving with only 8 pounds before she was enrolled in our program.
The Infant Nutrition Program is a continuous effort. As one child leaves, we know there are more waiting in line. We believe that a child should not be turned down due to the family's financial situation and we work very hard to raise the funds needed to continue with our programs from start to finish. Changing another person's life takes time and effort, and we are happy to do it everyday.
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