After watching the video, scroll down to read about Gonzalo's Journey
Gonzalo's Journey
Cleft Transformed
Gonzalo was born with cleft lip and palate in the expansive Andean highlands of Bolivia. He is on a journey to access ongoing, comprehensive care.
At high altitudes, rural Bolivian families grow what they can. All other necessities, from goods to healthcare, require arduous travel.
Far away, annual fly-in-fly-out surgical missions are generally a family's only hope for receiving cleft care.
Yet, effective treatment often requires ongoing support throughout a child’s life.
TF’s local partner, Ayninakuna Cleft Centre, is helping families complete their journey toward full rehabilitation. Please help us maintain the momentum.
Luciano and Filomena have 6 children, all born at home without a midwife. Gonzalo is the youngest. When the couple first saw their son, they were deeply saddened and afraid. They had never heard of cleft, nor did they know that it could be treated.
Luciano knew he had to call the nearest health post for answers. To find reception, he walked to the top of the mountain. Health posts are where rural families first turn for all elements of basic care.
Rural Context
17.90°S, 66.35°W
*Approximate coordinates
Roads do not appear on the map. Natural landmarks serve as the only point of reference.
13,120 ft
The altitude the family resides at, making growing conditions limiting.
Subsistence Farming
Families survive on potato, oat, and wheat.
Quechua
Primary language spoken in the region.
3G Network
The only available connection found at the top of the mountain.
Luciano’s call got through.
Thankfully, the nurse at the health post knew about cleft and that treatment was possible.
There were two options: wait for a future surgical mission, a multi-day trek away; or contact Ayninakuna, our local partner, offering Comprehensive Cleft Care in the city of Cochabamba.
This marked the beginning of Gonzalo's cleft care journey.
The Ayninakuna team began coordination by telephone, coaching the family on proper feeding techniques and nutrition.
It wasn’t long before the health post confirmed that Gonzalo was in sufficiently good health to embark on the 7-hour bus trip to the centre.
So far, Gonzalo has accessed surgeries for his cleft lip and palate and Luciano and Filomena have been equipped to help their son thrive between visits. They are well-supported by the cleft care team for the road ahead.
These days, his family visits every few months for dental, health, and psychosocial care.
In Bolivia, the Comprehensive Cleft Care journey requires commitment and courage.
The cleft care team knows that travel is long and complicated for rural families. In response, they coordinate care across cleft disciplines to make the most of each family’s visit.
For Gonzalo, speech therapy, psychosocial care and orthodontics are on the horizon. His future is bright.
All children with cleft deserve care from a local team to help them live a full and healthy life.
Please help us maintain this momentum.
You can help complete their journey.
