100 Smiles in 100 Days

Dear Smile Givers

I am glad that the 100 Smiles in 100 Days campaign is going beyond its suggestive target of 100 Smiles to bring the Gift of Smile to even more number of children. Thanks for supporting and sharing ,we had received disbursements of slightly over $ 1000 in March and April as additional support from new donors.

We used your donation to support the surgery of Ann (Name Changed) , 1 year and 10 months old baby girl who was born with a major cleft (If you are from a medical background - Tessier 4 Cleft). This severe form of cleft not only affects the lip and palate but changes the entire symmetry of the face and at times impairing vision, hearing etc. of the child.

We came to know about Ann from one of our cleft awareness camp near their village. Their village, Mondalgiri, is a kilometre away from Sunderban Tiger Reserve (home to Royal Bengal Tiger). It is an economically backward region with agriculture and fishing being the primary sources of income of the people. Her surgery would have been impossible for her father to provide for who is a daily wage earner. His meagre means supports a family of five hence providing corrective surgery for his daughter was a distant dream.

Ann’s condition had huge impact on her psychologically as she avoids playing outside and frequently sick due to infections. Words fall short to express the pain that Ann had to go through in her life without the surgery. The non acceptance by her grandparents, the cruel name calling all this could end with her surgery.

So tears welled in the eyes of her parents when we told them that the entire cost of surgery, stay and travel for them and their daughter will be provided free of cost. And, what a transformation has it been!

And when she came with her parents after a week of her surgery; the shine in her eyes truly expressed how much the surgery meant for her. Please see her pic attached.

Thank you so much for helping Ann with her surgery.

As you would see in the pictures in her pre and post surgery pictures attached below, you would find that the huge change that your donations has brought, makes all this worth it.

We know that she would need a few more surgeries to recover to the maximum possible extent. And, we are determined to do whatever necessary to help her recuperate fully- be it medicines, speech therapy, nutrition, and provide further corrective surgeries.

We want to help more children like Ann through this campaign by making it on-going.

So, we appeal to you to start a recurring donation to help fund ongoing post-surgery treatment for cleft children.

Amount does not matter; your participation does - for these children who need prolonged care and treatment even after their successful cleft surgeries.

Here’s the link to our project page: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/make-a-smile-gift/ to make a recurring investment in the futures of these kids.

Our goal is to raise 50 recurring donations in next 30 days and each one counts..............

Thank you for being there for Ann through out.

Anupam Sarkar | Manager - Partnerships
M: +91-9007883789 | E: anupam.sarkar@missionsmile.org
Website: www.missionsmile.org

 (PS: If you start your recurring donation, and likewise we receive 49 more in next one month, I promise to personally visit Ann’s home again to give her a bouquet of soft toys [for her summer vacations] as a token of your love for her that you have expressed through your recurring donation. And, yes, I will be posting the photos in our next report. Please feel free to share the project with your friends and until we talk again. Bye & Thanks again)

Links:

• Ann's Transformation
• Tamina's Cleft To Smile Journey