Ishara Fernando lives in Boralessa, a village 30 miles north of Colombo, where our home "Pondside" is located. She is 10 years old and studies in Grade 5. Her father, Gamini, is a day laborer. He has three daughters and two have cleft lips. His wife is severely epileptic.
Ishara was examined by Dr. Romesh Gunasekera, a reconstructive surgeon. The note the doctor wrote is copied below.
Doctor's Note
This child, Ishara Fernando, has been born with a cleft lip and cleft palate. The total cost of the operation which has to be done in 2 stages will be around Rs. 250,000. The first stage will be re do of lip and the front palate. The second stage after 6 months will be the the back of the palate.
Dr. Romesh Gunasekera
MBBS, MS, FRCS
Before surgery
Both surgeries have now been completed at a cost of Rs. 300,000 (about US$2,500.) American donors contributed $800.
Ishara now speaks without a lisp and attends school, no longer fearful of being taunted by her schoolmates.
After
