Support Cleft Nutrition in Rural Guatemala

Diego was born on May 21, 2025, in Santa Cruz Barillas — a place rich in community, but far from specialized medical care. Reaching the Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro Hospital requires a nine-hour journey, making access to treatment especially challenging for his family.

Diego’s mother, María, was just 27 years old when she began navigating this complex journey largely on her own — carrying uncertainty, responsibility, and fear for her son’s future. It was through the nurses in her village that María first learned about the program. Soon after, she was connected with Surama Pérez, Diego’s Health Promoter, who from the very beginning became a steady source of support for both María and little Diego.

The support was practical and deeply human: assistance with infant formula, guidance, and consistent presence. Through this process, María learned that caring for her son with love and tenderness was just as important as any medical treatment. When Diego underwent his first surgery with the Medical Mission for Children team , something shifted profoundly.

María says it simply and clearly:
“Now I feel very happy. Happy to see him well. Happy knowing they made it happen.”

That feeling is shared by the entire family. At home, there is now calm and joy. Diego’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings know that everything went well — and they look ahead with hope toward the next steps of his care.

Diego still has a journey ahead of him, including a pending palate surgery. But today, the fear feels different. Today, there is trust, because María knows she is not alone — and that her son is being cared for with dignity, respect, and compassion.

Diego weighs 14.8 pounds and measures 63 cm — reaching a healthy weight before surgery and ready for the next step in his care.