Archana: Amigas

  Archana: Sheyla 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Today, I got to spend some time with Sheyla, another little girl from the orphanage. Sheyla is four years old and has a fistula, or gap, in her palate, making it difficult for her to talk. Jacquelyn told me that Sheyla rarely speaks at all, and they are hoping that after the surgery, she’ll be more willing to try.

I played with Sheyla, and I was so impressed by her intelligence. Sheyla took the stickers and coloring book I gave her from Ronald McDonald House Charities, and created a new game. She put the stickers with their matching characters in the coloring book, and also asked me (in gestures) the names of each character. She also asked me to take her picture and show it to her on the digital camera.

By the time she left, Sheyla and I were great “amigas”! I hope that with this surgery – and the loving care of the orphanage – Sheyla will learn to speak. With her intelligence, I’m sure she’ll thrive in school…