Our Father's Foundation and El Paso Community Foundation Provide Funding to Boquitas Bonitas

Location:
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Details:

Boquitas Bonitas Program Receives Grant from Our Father's Foundation
Cleft palate patients are eternally grateful to Our Father’s Foundation for their generous grant to help subsidize cleft palate surgeries for 16 children. Boquitas Bonitas (Pretty Mouths) was established to provide cleft palate surgery to poor and marginalized children who otherwise would never receive it. Since 2001, FEMAP has provided cleft surgery at an extreme discount to a total of 60 patients.

"Our doctors have been trained by American physicians from the University of Alabama and Mexican physicians from the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico and Universidad Autonoma de Cd. Juarez," explains Dr. Gustavo Martinez, Medical Director Hospital de la Familia. This "teach a man to fish" strategy is at the core of everything FEMAP does and helps very poor but very proud communities become self sufficient, one smile at a time.
"Because this is a congenital condition, the program focuses on providing the best surgery and rehabilitation possible, thereby allowing them the chance to face life's challenges on a level field," adds Dr. Martinez.
Although cleft lip and palate is a single anomaly, its consequences affect numerous systems and functions that include facial growth, dentition, speech and language, hearing and genetics. The inevitable social and psychological impact on the child, their parents and family must also be considered.