GUATEMALA – It felt good to run. Ehimy’s hair streamed behind her like a banner as she chased a ball across the field, laughing as she evaded her brothers. Oh, how she loved to play. Then she felt it—a twinge of pain, the telltale sign that the cyst was pushing on her airway. “Mama!” she called out in alarm.
For months, 9-year-old Ehimy had been struggling to do nearly anything that took physical effort. When her family first discovered the lump in her throat, it didn’t hurt. But the pain soon became almost commonplace, something Ehimy could expect when she did certain things—like eat. And it only grew worse.
For months, 9-year-old Ehimy had been struggling to do nearly anything that took physical effort. When her family first discovered the lump in her throat, it didn’t hurt. But the pain soon became almost commonplace, something Ehimy could expect when she did certain things—like eat. And it only grew worse.
“Many times I have a lot of pain, but then it goes away on its own,” Ehimy shared. “One night I realized that the lump was bigger, and I told my mom. I got really scared and cried.”
She also told us how she looked to God in her desperation. “Every day I ask God to remove the lump. I get sad because I don’t like having it.”
Her mother, Maria, was worried. She wanted to make sure Ehimy was safe, but they didn’t have sufficient income to handle unexpected medical expenses. Maria and her husband were field laborers in a small rural community and earned barely $8 per day. Maria said, “I cried before God, because we didn’t have the money to do a surgery for my daughter.”
Surgery In Guatemala For A Cyst
Still, they persevered until they could pay for an exam. The doctor told them Ehimy had a cyst and confirmed that she needed surgery in Guatemala. That was far, far out of reach for them—but it wasn’t for friends like you! Thankfully, Operation Blessing saw their situation and reached out to them quickly with love and support from caring partners like you.
The Life-Changing Surgeries team in Guatemala offered Ehimy the chance of a lifetime. We would provide her surgery for free, and her family would even have their travel expenses paid. It seemed like a miracle to this family.
And her surgery was a tremendous success! Because of the compassion of our Operation Blessing family members like you, Ehimy can envision a future without throat pain. She can play freely without fear. And eating can be a joy again! She doesn’t have to fight to swallow anymore.
Ehimy was so grateful. “After they operated on me, I thanked God because that cyst was no longer there.” She appreciates all of you whose support made this possible. “Thank you for helping me, I am very happy!”
