My New Sponsored Child

Last year after the massive China earthquake I sponsored 2 orphaned girls in China thru Half the Sky Foundation (re: June 30, 2008 post). A few days ago I received an email from the Foundation informing me that one of my children, 4 yr old XS was adopted recently (for which I am enormously happy that she has found a home) and I have been reassigned to QF, a 15 month old baby girl from Maonan, Guangdong province. I clicked open with great anticipation the child information sheet, wondering what my new child looks like and what activities she enjoys. The image that emerged was one that I was unprepared for; it was a beautiful, vivacious toddler in a pink dress replete with little blue and green flowers sitting on a large blue plastic rocking horse, with the BIGGEST smile I have ever seen on a child. Her sunny disposition and genuinely happy temperament was evident in her outsized contagious smile. On closer examination, I realize the reason why her smile looked so enormous was that she was born with a cleft lip, in this she has what is medically known as “bilateral complete” cleft lip.

My heart went out to her immediately and my first thought was I wonder if the Foundation has worked with Operation Smile to secure QF a spot for surgery, and if not, what can I do to ensure that she gets the reconstructive operation?

I seek out to do all the research I can on the topic, and on Operation Smile. I had never known that this congenital deformity occurs in one in 600-800 births, that is an astonishingly common occurrence to me! For years I have read articles and seen TV commercials on Operation Smile, and not once did it ever cross my mind that I should donate, until now! For the cost of as little as $240 a year (less that ONE Starbucks Venti Mocha per week, or a meal at an expensive restaurant), one could help transform the life of a child!

I have written to the Foundation to see how I can secure a spot for QF to get the necessary surgery if she isn’t already scheduled for an operation (need to navigate the proper protocol in China under which a child is chosen for surgery, etc). As I wait patiently for a response, I can only imagine what any mother would do if she gave birth to a child who is dealt the unfortunate lot of birth defects, she would do anything to improve the life of that child! In my case, even as a Sponsor Parent on paper, I want my “child” to have a chance at a better life, and I hope I can lend a helping hand from across the world, for almost next to nothing in terms of cost.