Filipino Boy's Dream: Handsome
& Healthy
Pinambay watches peacefully as her six-year-old son Abdul happily
runs around playing with the other village children. One year ago life
was very different. Abdul was often ridiculed because of his cleft lip
and palate. The family didn't have enough money for his surgery or his
schooling, and their village was without a clean source of water, so they
fought constant sickness. Pinambay remembers when it all began to change...
In August 2003 the people of Saba, Montalban welcomed guests. Operation
Blessing's president Bill Horan came to their village with a project team
to dedicate the new water well we drilled! The chore of hauling water
from unsanitary sources was over. In addition to this already momentous
day, Mr. Horan's heart went out to Abdul and the other children in the
community. Our Filipino office committed to do more. Our work there had
just begun.
At the time of her son's birth, Pinambay had wanted her son’s lip
and palate repaired. Doctors, however, advised against it and told her
to come back when he was ten months old. When that time came the family
no longer had the money to pay for the operation. Even though Abdul suffered
from malnourishment because of the birth defect, he grew into a tough
little boy. When the other kids teased him, he would not allow himself
to cry.
Change Begins
After Mr. Horan's visit, arrangements were quickly made for Abdul
to receive the two surgeries that would relieve his suffering. When he
learned he was going to have an operation he said, “Yahoo! I’m
gonna be handsome now!” According to his mom, Abdul would look at
himself from time to time in the mirror, dreaming of what he would look
like.
Dreams Become Reality
He didn't have to dream for long. Operation Blessing partnered
with Dr. Santos at the St. Martin De Porres hospital and Abdul had cleft
lip surgery on September 12, 2002! Five months later, he underwent cleft
palate surgery. During the following months, Abdul took speech therapy
to help him get used to the repaired palate and lip. At last the cruel
jokes ended. Pinambay gratefully expressed her joy saying, “We sincerely
thank Operation Blessing for its' help in my son’s operations.”
An Unexpected Surprise
Our partners have continued to pour life into the lives of this
little boy and his friends through the Bless-A-Child program. Abdul was
accepted into this program for one year. He receives nutritious lunches
and vitamins on a daily basis. A pediatrician also checks up on his progress.
What excited Abdul most was the preschool sponsorship. He was going to
school! Everything from the school tuition fees to uniforms and school
supplies were provided for. He loved his new shoes! “He didn’t
want to go to school before. But when he saw all the new things that were
bought for him, he was so happy,” related Pinambay.
Changing Lives One Child At a Time
Abdul, his mother and the entire community will never be the
same! Thank you for helping us set them free. But remember, there are
hundreds of thousands of children around the world still waiting to receive
cleft lip and/or palate surgery. We need you to help us set them free
from a life of pain and suffering their birth defect brings with it. Your
gift of just $34 a month for 12 months -- or a special gift of $400 –
will sponsor corrective surgery for one boy or girl suffering from a cleft
lip or palate.
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