July, 2025
When Silvia found out she was pregnant, she planned to deliver her baby at home, like many mothers in her village near Santo Domingo Xenacoj, with the help of a trusted midwife. But when the time came, things didn’t go as expected. Complications arose, and with no car of their own, Silvia and her husband rushed to the hospital in Chimaltenango, 40 minutes away.
There, baby Karla was born—a beautiful little girl, but with a cleft lip and palate. The hospital team immediately referred her to Partner for Surgery, and our health promoter Jandery made the first connection. Since Karla lived in a nearby region, Jandery coordinated her care with Dina, the health promoter for that area. And so, Karla entered the Cleft Infant Nutrition Program—her first step toward healing.
In the first weeks of her life, Karla struggled. Feeding was painful and difficult. Her mother tried using bottles, but Karla couldn’t latch. She often cried in hunger and frustration. Silvia was overwhelmed, unsure how to help her daughter gain weight or grow strong.
That’s when Dina stepped in—bringing special bottles, formula, and a plan to help Karla grow strong enough for surgery.
With time, care, and nutritional support, Karla gained weight. On April 7, with the Free to Smile surgical team, Karla underwent her first operation to repair her lip.
Silvia remembers the wait outside the operating room.
“I was anxious and sad,” she said. “But when I saw her after the surgery, with her new smile, I felt such joy. It was like seeing her for the first time again.”
Something beautiful happened after surgery: feeding became easier. Karla could finally hold her bottle better. Her hunger eased, and her joy returned. She started trying new foods—mashed potatoes and guicoy, her favorites.
Now that she’s six months old, Karla is preparing for her next big milestone: a surgery to repair her palate next year. With the start of complementary feeding, she was introduced to Incaparina. But at first, she had some trouble—constipation made her uncomfortable. With the support of Dina and our community nutritionist Alejandra, Silvia learned to adjust the recipe by adding a bit of oil to ease digestion.
The results? Karla is thriving once again.
She’s growing, laughing, learning—and spending time on her favorite swing, a handmade seat crafted from a bent iron rod and a burlap sack. Whenever Dina comes to weigh her, Karla giggles—it reminds her of swinging, and she loves the attention.
Behind every successful surgery is a health promoter who believed in a baby’s future before anyone else could see it. They are the bridge between isolation and care, between despair and transformation.
Thanks to your support, all of this is possible.
