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Very Special Project

Dear Friends,

There are few things more precious than a child’s smile.  Unfortunately, not all children are born with one. 

The children seen below were born with oral-facial clefts.  It is our goal to help these children, and children like them, from having to go through life with the physical and social difficulties associated with this birth defect.

Without reconstruction surgery, children born with facial clefts can suffer ear disease that leads to hearing loss, trouble speaking, dental problems, and many are unable to eat properly and experience malnutrition, which can lead to death.  The odds are stacked against these children to live normal, happy lives.  Many of them will not reach the age of two.

 

 

The children we help, and will continue to help, come from remote areas in Guatemala, where there are no government or private medical services available for families.  Here, children will not receive any help with their terrible problem unless someone knocks on their door and offers it.  The parents of these children work hard, struggling to provide for their families. They don’t have the time, the means, or the knowledge of how to deal with this problem.  The children that survive with untreated oral-facial clefts often go into hiding and live miserable lives.

Here at Casa Guatemala we have assigned local coordinators to the remote areas of Sayaxche Peten, Ixcan Quiche, Uspastan, Purulá, Telemán, El Estor.  The coordinators seek out children with the birth defect and post notices at health centers, municipalities, schools, and churches, announcing medical aid.  Once found, we send out our social worker along with volunteer doctors to do a pre-surgical evaluation.  Children who are malnourished, have parasites, are found to be anemic, or have any other health conditions, are treated so they can go into the surgery healthy. 

When the time comes for the surgery, the children are transported along with their mothers to the General Hospital of Coban.  There, Dr. Alvaro A. Figueroa, DDS, MS, along with his team from the University of Illinois, wait to perform the marvelous and miraculous reconstructive surgery that will change these children’s lives forever.  Dr. Figueroa and other passionate doctors like him from the USA have been performing these types of surgeries for over 25 years.

Alvaro A. Figueroa, DDS, MS
Co-Director Rush Craniofacial Center
Professional Bldg. I, Suite 425
1725 West Harrison Street
Chicago, Illinois 60612 312-563-3000 phone  312-563-2514 fax
Alvaro_Figueroa@rush.edu

To assist the needs of the children and their families before, during, and after the surgeries, Casa Guatemala mobilizes two social workers from Guatemala City, one nurse, one local doctor, and countless volunteers.  We provide a hotel, food, and transportation for our staff and volunteers, as well as the children’s families. 

As soon as the children are recruited we will post their pictures on www.casa-guatemala.org.  We will continue to provide updates at this website throughout the entire process until the children return home. 

The overall cost per child is calculated at $500.  Please help us give these children smiles and a fair chance at a normal life.  We appreciate any contribution you are able to afford.

HOW TO MAIL YOUR CONTRIBUTION

Tax-Deductible Contributions for US Residents:

Please send check to:
FRIENDS OF GUATAMALA CHILDREN / IRS ID 52 1302396
c/o Reese Brenengen
W 1869 Brye Road, P.O Box 488, Coon Valley, WI, USA, 54623. Telephone: 608-452-3035 Email: sldmseen@mwt.net

Tax-Deductible Contributions for Canadian Residents:

Please send check to:
SUPPORT CASA GUATEMALA CHILDREN / REG # 0863233-03
c/o Bob Carkner
8500 Fairway Road, Richmond, BC, Canada, V7C 1V6
Telephone: 604-277-6584 Email: bobcarkner@shaw.ca
OR
Please send check to:
SUPPORT CASA GUATEMALA CHILDREN / REG # 0863233-03
c/o Roy Baker
660 Meadow Lane, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7L 4R8
Telephone: 905-632-6790 Email: royba@idirect.com

Contributions for U.K Residents:

Please send check or bank transfer to:
CASA GUATEMALA FUND / Branch/Account # 30-15-52/2002135
Lloyds TSB
19 Arrowe Park Road, Upton Wirral, Merseyside CH49 OUB

Donors from other parts of the world
A bank transference to:

BAC FLORIDA BANK
ABA No 067009044  SWIFT: BFLBUS3M
169 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, Fl. 33134 U.S.A.
For credit account: #937002808 In the name of ASOCIACION CASA GUATEMALA

or: DIRECT TO OUR BANK IN GUATEMALA

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
BANK OF AMERICA TOWER, 30th FLOOR
100 Southeast 2nd Street
Miami, Florida 33130
Tel. (305) 533 2740
ABA 066007681 SWIFT BOFAUS3M
To be deposited to account # 1901734945
I/N/O BANCO G & T Continental. (6 avenida 9-08 zona 9 plaza G&T Continental Guatemala city)
Guatemala - For Further credit to account #00-0125093-5
I/N/O ASOCIACION CASA GUATEMALA

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING THE CHILDREN!