I'm too tired to do this post justice, but I hope you will read it anyway. It's been an exhausting two days. Mainly because I traveled to Tamba for this little boy:
His name is Abdoulaye, and he is really sweet and shy, and a little confused by all the attention. I am guessing he's about 5 years old. The pretty girl pictured with him is his mom, and she said she's 17.
I am serving as an escort and
translator for Abdoulaye and his grandmother. We leave Tuesday for
the city, where we'll learn if he qualifies for cleft palate surgery, courtesy of the wonderful Jooko Cleft Association.
The surgery itself is free, but my friend Tracy is in the states
trying to raise funds for travel and lodging. Feel free to check back
here in the next few days for info on how to donate to Tracy (not an official Peace Corps project - there is no non-profit, tax-deductible option). The more you
donate the more you can help Tracy defray expenses.
This is one of those times when a little bit will go a long way.
Please send a check made out to either me, Emily Morris, or Tracy McDonald, to the following address:
Tracy McDonald
633 East Taylor Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
Abdoulaye made this same trip with Tracy last year, but during the surgical consultation he was diagnosed with malaria. He's lucky in that it was successfully treated and he's still alive. At the same time, he's just a little boy and from what I'm told didn't understand why the other children were “fixed” and he wasn't.
Wednesday is the consultation. If he checks out the three of us will make the 10-hour car trip again in November for the surgery. I am only here per Tracy's request, but I'm glad to help and think it will end up being one of the most memorable parts of my service. I hope that will be a happy memory.
what org is doing the surgery?? thankkks claire
Posted by: claire | October 05, 2009 at 10:59 AM