Hena leans over her drawing of a little flowerpot as her mom watches patiently nearby. They exchange quick smiles along with a few words in Bengali. Hena was only six months old when she received her first cleft lip surgery, and she was fortunate to receive a follow-up surgery before turning three. The only care Hena now requires is speech therapy, which will help improve any remaining difficulties she has with talking.
Surgery for Hena has allowed her to avoid mistreatment in a culture that can be unkind to the deformed. $500 from donors was all it took to provide her ample opportunity in life.