On June 13th, a young girl named Angelina received reconstructive surgery on her cleft lip, significantly altering the course of the rest of her life.
Angelina before receiving reconstructive cleft surgery
This story begins with PCBR and it’s multidisciplinary health screening activities. During one of the screenings in Bachonsa, Angelina was identified as having an orofacial cleft. Her parents were unaware that surgery was an option, but thanks to the health screening performed by PCBR the family and the community of Bachonsa learned that medical intervention was a possibility.
In May of 2013, Mr. Maxwell Akandem, coordinator of PCBR, asked SFD interns Katie and Brittany to look into the possibility of surgery for Angelina. A successful fundraising campaign organized by these interns made the surgery financially feasible, and on June 12th they traveled to Kumasi with Angelina and her mother to visit the KATH Cleft Clinic. There they met surgeons who offered to perform the surgery immediately, and the next day Angelina received this life changing procedure. She was discharged from the hospital the next day and returned to Bachonsa.
Angelina 48 hours after reconstructive cleft surgery
Since then Angelina’s mother, Teni, has begun advocating for disabled children and the possibility of health interventions. Her family is grateful for the work done by Brittany, Katie, and PCBR; and hopes to help others in a similar situation.
