Renata is a sweet, joyful little girl living in Riobamba, Ecuador with her Italian mother, Gaia, and her Ecuadorian father, Daniel. She is suffering from Esophageal Atresia Type 1 and is in great need of an operation to correct the defect. 


A little background on this personal story for me:

Gaia became a sister to me when I did my Peace Corps service in Riobamba over 5 years ago now. I love this family and long to see my sweet little niece, Renata. Gaia did so much for me when I was a volunteer there, and most of all, became family to me when I was away from literally all of mine back at home. She was there for me through the laughter and the tears. It's time I return the favor and am asking for your help.

Because Ecuador cannot perform the necessary operation that little Renata needs for her Esophageal Atresia, Gaia and Daniel have made arrangements to get the operation done in Italy. 

Renata needs at least $15,000 which include the expenses of the trip, operation and care. I am only asking for half of that as Gaia has been working very hard to acquire funds from various sources literally from around the world including from family and friends.

Renata is hoping to have the funds by June or July to proceed with the operation for the Esophageal Atresia. The name of the hospital in Italy is Ospedale Infantile di Alessandria, Aazienda Ospedaliera Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arriego. Renata's surgeon is Alessio Pini Prato.

Please help baby Renata get this necessary operation she needs! 

As a sincere thank you to donors, I will send a quote of your choosing handwritten in Calligraphy (a hobby of mine) on hardstock paper for donations of $50 and above. For those that donate $100 and above, a poem of your choosing. 

To learn more about Esophageal Atresia, please read below:


What is Esophageal Atresia?
Esophageal atresia is a birth defect in which part of a baby’s esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach) does not develop properly.

Esophageal atresia is a birth defect of the swallowing tube (esophagus) that connects the mouth to the stomach. In a baby with esophageal atresia, the esophagus has two separate sections—the upper and lower esophagus—that do not connect. A baby with this birth defect is unable to pass food from the mouth to the stomach, and sometimes has difficulty breathing.

Esophageal atresia often occurs with tracheoesophageal fistula, a birth defect in which part of the esophagus is connected to the trachea, or windpipe.

How Many Babies are Born with Esophageal Atresia?
Researchers estimate that about 1 in every 4,100 babies is born with esophageal atresia in the United States.1 This birth defect can occur alone, but often occurs with other birth defects.

Treatment
Once a diagnosis has been made, surgery is needed to reconnect the two ends of the esophagus so that the baby can breathe and feed properly. Multiple surgeries and other procedures or medications may be needed, particularly if the baby’s repaired esophagus becomes too narrow for food to pass through it; if the muscles of the esophagus don’t work well enough to move food into the stomach; or if digested food in the stomach consistently moves back up into the esophagus.