Small surgery, big impact!

 Eleven year old JM joined one of our foster families several months ago.  

JM was born with a cleft lip and palate, which were repaired when she was small.  When she arrived, one of the first things we noticed was that her speech was very unclear.  We knew that was a big issue that needed to be resolved quickly – partly because of the difficulty in communication, but also for her self-esteem and so that she would not be teased or bullied in school. 

JM was able to travel to Beijing for a pharyngoplasty, which is a surgery that changes the shape and function of the soft palate.  The day after surgery we could already see a huge improvement in her pronunciation.  It was amazing to see how proud she was to be speaking more clearly!

She is a quiet girl who likes to dance and loves making up her own dances.  She has a very introspective nature and can really focus on a task or project once she gets started.

We are excited to see what the future holds for JM.  And we're so grateful to our supporters who make it possible for JM to know the love of a family and receive life changing medical care.