This is the first time that the Samaritan’s Purse cleft lip and palate program has reached patients in Central America and the first time that any organization has performed the surgeries in Petén. Our project provides life-changing surgeries for those who do not have access to adequate medical care. 

“Usually, patients have to go to Antigua, Guatemala, or somewhere else. This is the first time in history that it’s been done here in Petén,” said Tim Spurrier, director of Hospital Shalom, the World Medical Mission partner hospital where the surgeries were held in December 2019.

Some children have been waiting more than a decade to receive this life-changing surgery.

Samaritan’s Purse doctors and nurses provided Jeylin with a new cleft lip and palate, and the inward transformation witnessed by her friends and family was tremendous. 

“[These children] have probably been embarrassed most of their life and hopefully we made them feel super special,” said Bethany Densham, cataracts/cleft lip teams program advisor. “No matter what, we care about them and God cares about them.”

After years of being embarrassed to speak to those around her, Jeylin is now able to speak with improved clarity. “Before, when she is in school, it was rare if someone understood her when she read,” Jeylin’s mother said. “But now, [her speech] is much clearer.”

As her speech continues to improve from the cleft palate surgery, Jeylin is excited to begin school again in the new year. “I am so happy because in school I was bullied. Now, I am excited to go back to school,” she said. 

Jeylin’s mother echoed her eagerness to return to school. “I feel so much better with her going to school knowing she won’t be bullied,” she said. “She is beautiful inside and outside.”

Renewed Confidence

Eder, like Jeylin, is excited to attend school with a new smile. 

Years of continuous bullying as a result of a cleft lip and palate kept Eder out of school and took a toll on his self-confidence. 

The Samaritan’s Purse team mended Eder’s cleft lip and palate, giving him confidence to begin school. “I am happy with my lip,” Eder said. 

After years of trying to provide cleft lip and palate surgery for her son, Doris praised God for leading her to Samaritan’s Purse. “I am happy and grateful and thankful to God for giving us this opportunity,” she said. “It’s not common to receive this kind of surgery in this area.”