Surgery for Baby Renata

We need your help for a lifesaving mission.  Funds are needed urgently so that Baby Renata can have surgery.

Baby Renata is one year old girl born with an anorectal malformation with an imperforate anus and a rectovestibular fistula.  Basically she was born without an anus. Medical Condition 


She was born in a public hospital in the Dominican Republic,  sent home on day 5 with her 15 year old mother without the hospital discovering that she had no anus.   Several days after returning to their home, the grandmother noticed that the baby did not look well she took Renata to a peditrician.   Because the baby had no anus and was being fed with no means of elimination, she now was septic and was sent (on a bus) to a big city 3 hours away.  When the baby arrived there was no one there to do the surgery and so she had to yet wait another day.  On the brink of death, this 15 day old baby went into surgery and was given a colostomy.  She was then sent home with no further instructions or plans for any future surgery because of the pandemic.  Because the family is living in poverty and has no medical insurance in a developing country, Renata has not been able to receive the medical care or surgery needed
 
Through our small community of Las Terrenas in the Dominican Republic, thankfully we have connected with this family and we want to help her get the surgery and care needed.  During the last year we have been helping Baby Renata by going to doctor appointments, treating infections and providing vitamins and medication.  We now have an emergency situation and need to get her the surgery she needs.

Renata and her family are living in poverty with nine living in a 3 bedroom tiny wood shack with a roof covered in holes and no running water or electricity.  The grand parents are the sole providers earning very little money to try and maintain the family consisting of 1 great grandparent, 5 children and 2 grandchildren.  They cannot afford any medical care for Renata.


MEDICAL AND SURGICAL PLAN FOR RENATA

Tests, follow-up care and surgery will need to be done in the capital city of Santo Domingo which is a 2-hour drive from their home.

Medical Plan
Cost in USD
Pre surgery testing                                                                               $400.00
Travel/accommodations to Santo Domingo (per visit).   $400.00
Taxi rides to Hospital                                                                           TBD
1st Surgery                                                                                              $8,300.00
Nurse for follow-up prevent infection                                      TBD
Dietician for special diet                                                                   TBD
Special diet and vitamins                                                                  TBD
2nd Surgery (3-6 months after)                                                    TBD

We will schedule the first surgery as soon as we are able raise most of the funds.  This will create an anal opening for Renata.  As detailed above, she will then need follow-up care.

The second surgery will occur 3-6 months later to close the colostomy and attach her intestines to the anus.

She will need to be monitored very closely with frequent follow-up and visits to the capital.
 
If you have any questions please contact us through the Go Fund Me or Samana Smiles website or facebook page. Samana Smiles Foundation Inc., a registered non-profit charity in the United States and Dominican Republic will be responsible for distributing the funds as needed for Renata’s care.

The beneficiary for this campaign is Mike Bidwell, the president of Samana Smiles Inc. Foundation.  Samana Smiles will be responsible for paying all of the hospital bills as well as any other costs incurred because of the surgery.