We have already had the pleasure of introducing you to Angelina and Margaret. Through your support these girls have received life-changing cleft lip repair surgeries over the past month.

As a part of our current trip to Kumasi for Angelina’s follow-up appointment and Margaret’s cleft lip surgery we have learned she will need to return to Kumasi again in November for a cleft palate repair (a separate surgery from the cleft lip repair she just underwent). In order to maintain the level of care we have been able to provide thus far, we are once again asking you to partner with us in caring for Margaret.

“They told me she is a spirit child but I don’t care. I told them that I like it and that I want her.” – Lydia

Margaret’s mother, Lydia, recently told us community members in her hometown consider Margaret a “spirit child”. Traditionally in Northern Ghana children born with disabilities are considered evil spirits, and are often abandoned or killed. With the assistance of continued medical care Margaret, and her mother Lydia, can serve to disprove these negative stereotypes and be change makers in their community.

We’re excited that we were able to ensure Angelina had full access to the medical care she needed, and hope to provide the same opportunity to Margaret. As this medical care remains cost prohibitive for Margaret’s family we are asking for an additional $475 to fund the remaining cleft palate surgery and follow-up visits Margaret will need. Please see the below budget for more information.

Thank you for partnering with us on this project. We look forward to providing you continued updates.

Brittany Vine & Katie Ruf
Field Assistant Interns, Community-Based Rehabilitation, Ghana

~Katie and Brittany are Field Assistant Interns as a part of the Students for Development program funded by the Canadian International Development Agency. As a part of this program the girls are spending three months working with the Community-Based Rehabilitation program in Sandema, Upper East, Ghana. ~