Sunday, June 27, 2010

Imner has a new palate repair

On every COTA team, there is one baby in particular that is critically ill and captures the hearts of team members. Imner was that baby for Team 2010. It is hard to believe that on January 18th of this year, he was severely malnourished, had a baseball sized hernia, cleft lip and a cleft palate. He was limp in his mother's arms when she brought him to our clinic. He didn't have enough strength to eat.
Imner has just completed his last of three surgeries, and will soon be reunited with his mother in Guatemala. Although COTA has sent photos of Imner's progress while he was in foster care here in the states, we are sure she will be surprised to see what a sweet and healthy smile he has now. Imner has been very blessed with the excellent donated foster and surgical care in his adopted state of Illinois.

Twenty Years of COTA: Perspective and Memories from Warren Brandwine

         My first COTA mission to Peten was in January, 2000. We flew up to San Benito in a surplus C-130 with the door held on with ...