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Dear Smile Supporter,
Because your support makes us smile, we hope this will make you smile. As Thanksgiving approaches, we here at Operation Smile want to show you how your remarkable support is changing lives by sharing this beautiful story of thankfulness from our 30th anniversary medical missions happening right now in the Philippines:
Eden Rose and Eugene's excitement at the birth of their first child turned to despair when their daughter, Jinden Juriz, was born with a cleft lip. Both parents had seen people with cleft lips through their work in the fish industry in Negros Occidental, Philippines, but never imagined that it would happen to them.
The tears came and the new parents turned to each other for comfort and looked for support from their parents and the hospital staff. The nurses at the hospital were able to give them some hope by telling them that surgery was possible for their daughter and that they should check regularly with their local health center for news of a medical team coming to the area to help children like Jinden.
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Click here to read about our 30th Anniversary and more stories of lives changed forever |
Eden Rose contacted several organizations before learning about Operation Smile from a local community leader. After months of checking regularly she finally saw the dates for the upcoming mission in Silay. Finally the wait was over and the little family traveled, nervous but excited, to the hospital in Silay where they became more nervous when they saw so many other families with the same problem as Jinden.
After Jinden was screened by Operation Smile medical volunteers, Eden Rose wanted to wait until the surgical schedule was posted, but 22-month-old Jinden was tired and crying, so they returned home to wait for what they hoped would be good news. On Monday the call came Jinden's surgery was scheduled for Wednesday.
Eden Rose was so excited that she could not sleep on Tuesday night. And on Wednesday morning they visited the Cathedral on the way to the hospital to say a prayer for the successful outcome of Jinden's surgery.
Everyone on the Operation Smile medical team fell in love with beautiful little Jinden, and soon after successful surgery to repair her cleft lip, she was back in her mother's loving arms. After 24 hours in the hospital, Jinden and her doting parents were ready to return home to start a new life. Before leaving, however, the Eden Rose approached each of the doctors, nurses, and volunteers who cared for her precious daughter to thank them and presented a beautiful letter of thanks:
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To the staff nurses, volunteers, and doctors who made and help to make this operation a successful one.
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From the bottom of my heart I would like to say thank you for making my daughter Jinden Juriz a very beautiful girl right now … this is the most wonderful gift I have ever had. |
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To: Madison and Katie (Student Volunteers), and Cathryn (Speech Pathologist Cathryn Snyders):
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My baby is very happy when the three of you are playing and she is joining with your game that was the FIRST TIME we saw her very happy. |
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To: Dr. Richard (Plastic Surgeon Richard Lewandowski)
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We feel now that Juriz is a normal kid today. We are so blessed that you are her doctor. We owe this to you Dr. Richard... God Bless J |
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Thank you so much Operation Smile!
This is now the new journey of Jinden Juriz. |
This is now the new journey of Jinden Juriz. What a beautiful expression of gratefulness from this loving family.
As we approach Thanksgiving we are all grateful and honored to see firsthand how a surgery that takes as little as 45 minutes can change a child's life forever. Eden Rose will never be able to meet you in person, but it's because of people like you that her daughter is smiling so beautifully today. From all of us at Operation Smile, thank you for helping make that happen. Thank you for your invaluable partnership, compassion, and generosity.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Dr. Bill Magee & Kathy Magee
Co-founders |
Bill Kliewer
Chief Executive Officer |
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