Upon first glance, one might mistake two-year-old Fatou (right) and her four-month-old brother (left) for twins. Born with a cleft palate, Fatou has had difficulty feeding and has not received the proper nutrition a growing baby needs. 

“I worried about what her future was going to look like.” said Fatou’s mother. “The hospital near our home had never seen a condition like this before.”

Surgery on the Africa Mercy means restored hope for Fatou and her family.

Two-year-old Fatou weighed less than 10 pounds when she first arrived at the Africa Mercy. Although she qualified for surgery, she still needed to nearly double her weight in order to safely undergo the procedure. Thankfully, our Infant Feeding Program supports the growth and nutrition of malnourished infants pre-operatively. Fatou’s size will soon catch up to her big personality!

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