We should all be able to - Just Smile

Thank you for reading my Blog. Helping children who have clefts in developing countries- like India- is something that I strongly support. Not many people know about the issues these children face in their everyday lives. I hope that as soon as you have finished reading this you will want to help children- like Angelica Joy (AJ)- to just smile.

For Angelica Joy Fabroa, getting the operation needed to fix her cleft lip was a challenge. The youngest of four children, AJ was born in the Philippines into a poor, hardworking and loving family.
When AJ was born, her father started crying at the sight of her cleft lip. He and his wife were devastated, but neither of them lost hope because they knew her cleft could be treated. Knowing that AJ would have trouble feeding, they placed her in the care of a local mission that treated children with clefts. However, because AJ had been underweight since birth and had a weak body, the local mission evaluated her and would not operate.
When AJ and her parents returned a second time, again she could not pass the physical due to her low body weight and they were told to hospitalize her. AJ’s parents could never afford to pay for the cost of a hospital stay and so they began searching for another alternative.
Soon after, a local council official visited their small community and told AJ’s parents about The Smile Train Cleft Care Program run in conjunction with the Philippine Band of Mercy. In a matter of weeks, AJ finally received the surgery to repair her deformity.
Today, little AJ is a healthy and happy two-year-old, who can eat normally and is starting to talk. Because of the determination of her family and The Smile Train, the Fabroa family can all smile together!

AJ was helped by “The Smile Train”, one of the many charities who try to save these innocent children’s lives. “Operation Smile” is also a well-known charity for the cause and was recently on Blue Peter. However, AJ was lucky- many children who have clefts also have severe breathing problems and are also bullied. Some families are embarrassed of them and leave them on the streets to fend for themselves. It costs £150 and 45 minutes for another smile to be given to a child.

Thank you once again for reading my Blog. Please comment below with your thoughts. It would also be very helpful if you could answer the questions below. For further information on the charities mentioned above please go on:-
The Smile Train- http://www.smiletrain.org.uk/
Operation Smile- http://www.operationsmile.org.uk/
Questions:-

1. Have you heard about the problems faced by children who have clefts before?
2. Do you feel more informed about this issue after reading this blog?
3. Would you be prepared to:
• Donate to Operation Smile or the Smile Train?
• Receive regular information about what Operation Smile are doing by joining their Student Club?
• Join or maybe even start a Fundraising Campaign?
• Spread the word to your friends and family and ask them to help out too?

For Donations:- Please go on to- http://www.justgiving.com/MaheraTGGS
(Money goes straight to Operation Smile but I will be informed about how much is given towards the issue via myself)

Mahera