Damian's story begins, like so many children, with the joyful anticipation of his mom Nora and dad Alexander meeting him. At birth, however, Damian presents something that the exams from the previous 9 months had not detected: a cleft lip and palate, a facial malformation requiring surgical intervention.
Summoning their courage, Nora and Alexander take Damian to the hospital in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where he is fitted with an obturator to help him feed and breathe better, while awaiting the operation.
However, even the expenses for the obturator are very costly and, unfortunately, Nora and Alexander realize they are unable to afford the surgery as well. But the two young parents don't lose heart and, soon enough, Nora learns of an organization that provides surgical interventions for the treatment of cleft lip and palate.
Hope is kindled for Damian, who embarks at only 2 months old on the journey to reach the place where the organization operates. Unfortunately, upon arrival, Nora receives a new disappointment: Damian has hemoglobin levels too low to undergo the operation and is forced to return home.
In the end, however, Nora and Alexander's tenacity is rewarded: after about a year Nora, while listening to the radio, hears about Operation Smile, which also provides in Bolivia the possibility of receiving free medical and surgical care for children born with cleft lip and palate like Damian. It is also announced that a team of specialized volunteer doctors will hold a surgical program right in Santa Cruz, 90 minutes by bus from their home!
There's no time to waste: Nora and Alexander reach the indicated location as soon as possible, impressed by the number of families who are in their same situation and who have shown up to provide care for their children.
Following a comprehensive evaluation of Damian's health conditions by pediatricians, anesthesiologists, nutritionists and other volunteers, the child is deemed eligible to receive the first surgical intervention needed to treat the malformation.
Joy, hope, the prospect of a completely different future for their child: these are the many emotions that overwhelm Nora and Alexander when they see Damian's smile after the operation! Subsequently, the child undergoes a further surgical intervention to treat the cleft palate.
Today, Damian's life is completely transformed: he eats and breathes more easily and, according to his mom and dad, he is a very happy child, with a great personality and... an enormous smile!
There are so many children in the world who, like Damian, are born with a facial malformation and whose families, unfortunately, cannot afford the necessary medical and surgical care. Operation Smile is constantly engaged in 40 countries around the world precisely to guarantee each of them a smile, bringing care, free medical and surgical assistance.
Today, thanks to the limited edition bluon.me Emoji, you too can help give a smile to these children! For every bluon.me Emoji purchased, in fact, we will donate €1.50 together to Operation Smile.
