Before Surgery After Surgery

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.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

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