06/28/2014
Two-year-old Aira Mhyca Aguilar was born in Manila with a bilateral cleft palate. Shortly after Aira’s birth, her sixteen-year-old Mother abandoned her. Aira spent the first two years of her life in the custody of her grandparents. As fish vendors, her grandparents could not even afford to take her to a doctor for even basic check-ups. With such a deformity, Aira was destined to go through life as an outcast. School would be almost impossible for her because of the emotional suffering caused by derision and teasing.
Fortunately and fortuitously, Aira’s grandparents learned about an Utu clinic in Manila. Christian missionaries gave her grandparents enough money to cover the cost of travelling to our clinic where she received procedure to correct her deformity. Aira is now a beautiful, healthy toddler with every opportunity to lead a normal, productive, happy life.
On behalf of Aira, a big thank you to everyone that supports Utu!