Dressed in a cowboy shirt, boots and belt, Jorge, the father of
Idalma, age 11, fought to get his daughter operated on sooner than later. He
was ready to say no, he did not want to stay, he wanted to be bumped up on the
schedule. Idalma, who has had a bilateral cleft repair previously, decided to
speak up. She said to her parents, and anyone else who would listen, that she
did not care how long she had to stay, she was not leaving without having the
second procedure, a tooth extraction. I asked Jorge what his expectation of his
daughter was before and after the surgery.
“I want her to talk, want her to be happier…” Idalma has
difficulty speaking, but managed to eek out a smile. As we set up the
child friendly play center where she was, Allison, 11 months came in, held by
her very nervous mother. Allison was a very hungry and cranky baby. Jorge
looked at Allison, who was born with a cleft palate and said, very calmly to
her mother” is that your daughter?” , and the nervous mother nodded
shyly. Proudly, he pointed to his daughter, and said “this is my daughter, and
your daughter will look as beautiful as mine does after her surgery. “
Submitted by Robyn Braverman
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