Two years ago Katie Ruf and I were involved in a project in Ghana that helped provide very needed cleft palate surgeries to two adorable little girls from Sandema, Ghana. Many of our friends and family were involved in covering the costs of the transportation and lodging in Kumasi for the families of Angelina and Margaret.
We've finally surrendered to the idea that we might not be able to directly support Margaret's second surgery (though we hope it's gone ahead!) and have opted to donate the remaining funds to Operation Smile an amazing organization that provides cleft palate surgeries for children around the world, including those in Ghana.
At the end of our stay in 2013 we fundraised extra to provide for the costs of a follow-up surgery for Margaret. Regretfully, the arrangements we'd made for her surgery fell through, and over the past two years we've been unable to set it up again. Katie and I have tried to reconnect but the distance between us & Sandema has made it impossible.
We've finally surrendered to the idea that we might not be able to directly support Margaret's second surgery (though we hope it's gone ahead!) and have opted to donate the remaining funds to Operation Smile an amazing organization that provides cleft palate surgeries for children around the world, including those in Ghana.
The funds our friends and family contributed over two years ago ($820) will pay for 3 surgeries and/or support the education of local surgeons who will perform cleft palate surgeries in their own communities. We believe this is the very best Plan B around for the use of these funds, and remain deeply grateful for all those who supported this project. The impact of these donations is more than we'll ever know.
Please connect with Katie or I if you have any questions. If you want to hear more about the story of how this project came to be you can find the whole story here.
Thanks for supporting us, to support Operation Smile.
Happy #givingTuesday!
