So No Child Must Wait

Christina After Surgery

  Christina After Surgery 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Azogues, Ecuador - Here´s Christina and Mama the day after surgery.

The full sponsor of this team surgery trip to Azogues, Ecuador is Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a major supporter of Interplast and its service to children around the world. RMHC has helped thousands of children in some of the poorest regions of the globe to receive life-changing surgeries through Interplast´s programs.

Seeing Interplast´s program first-hand for the first time is a profound experience for me, and makes me even more grateful than ever for the support of our donors and sponsors like RMHC. Thank you so much for making this possible!

Christina Looking at Mama

  Christina Looking at Mama 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Azogues, Ecuador - Afterwards, Christina´s mother cradled her in her arms, and they just stared and stared at each other. I wish I could have captured that, but Mama was too aware of my camera, and would look at me and smile every time I raised it. I didn´t want to keep her from looking at her daughter´s new face, so finally I just took this picture. Look at Christina staring at her mother, though, and you should get the idea.

Right after taking this picture, I left the room sobbing.

Unconditional Love

  Unconditional Love 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Azogues, Ecuador - Christina's surgery went very well, and she woke calmly in recovery. But something amazing happened when her mother was brought in. The moment they caught sight of each other, they reached for each other simultaneously. Her mother scooped her up--IV and all.

I'm sorry these photos are blurry, but it happened so fast that I'm lucky I captured it at all!

Christina Before Surgery

Christina Before Surgery
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Azogues, Ecuador - Do you remember earlier I told you about Christina—I mistakenly called her Christiana. Here she is before surgery, a beautiful little girl just under two years old with a cleft.