Elizabeth's story: Elizabeth was born with a defect know as gastroschisis. Gastroschisis is a type of abdominal wall defect in which the intestines and sometimes other organs develop outside the fetal abdomen through an opening in the abdominal wall. Read how Hope Clinic International's volunteer surgeon was able to repair the defect and save her life.
SYLVIA : Sylvias was given a colostomy at birth because of a defect know as imperforate anus. Her parents were told that the repair of this problem could not be done in Nicaragua. An Imperforate anus is a birth defect in which the rectum is malformed. Sylvia's grandfather had been praying for a miracle when he heard about Hope Clinic International and asked if we could help.
GISSELLE'S STORY: Gisselle was 13 when we first met her. She was undernourished and suffering from gastrointestinal pain and inability to control her bowel or bladder. She wrote a beautiful letter to her surgery team during her hospital stay.