Yeferson’s Smile Is Growing Stronger Every Day

Five-month-old Yeferson Jacobo Ixcotoyac Pinula is always smiling.

He is a cheerful baby who lights up when people talk to him. But behind his bright smile, his family was carrying a heavy burden. Yeferson was born with a cleft lip and palate.

Just two days after he was born, a nurse in his community recommended that he begin drinking formula because feeding can be difficult for babies born with cleft conditions. Since then, Yeferson has needed formula five or six times each day to stay healthy and continue growing.

For his parents, Cristóbal and Micaela, providing that formula felt impossible.

The family lives in the remote village of Chipaj in Guatemala and survives on about $156 a month from Cristóbal’s work as a farmer. Together, they are raising five children. Each can of formula was expensive.

As the weeks passed, they found themselves making painful sacrifices. Money spent on formula meant less money to provide for their other children and meet the everyday needs of their household. The emotional burden was just as overwhelming.

His mother questioned whether she had done something wrong during her pregnancy. She worried she had not taken good enough care of herself and wondered why their family was facing such a difficult situation.

Her husband comforted her, reminding her that some questions only God can answer and that their son was a precious gift worthy of love, care, and hope. Still, they desperately searched for help.

For three months, Cristóbal visited different hospitals hoping someone could guide them. Everywhere they went, they found few answers and little support.

Then, everything changed. Micaela met another mother whose child had been born with the same condition and successfully treated through AVIS in San Cristóbal. She shared information about the program and encouraged the family to seek help.

That conversation became a turning point.

Today, Yeferson is enrolled in the Nutrition Program for Children with Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate. Through the generosity of compassionate donors, his family has received donations of specialized formula along with regular medical appointments to monitor his weight, growth, and overall health.

As a result, Yeferson is gaining healthy weight and thriving. For his parents, the support has provided more than nutrition. It has brought relief.

Without the burden of purchasing expensive formula, the family can better provide for their other children and prepare for the surgery that will help improve Yeferson’s future. They no longer face these challenges alone.

Today, Yeferson continues to smile, grow, and enjoy the love of his family. His parents are deeply grateful for the support they have received and know that without it, they would never have been able to afford the care their son needs. They believe Yeferson’s future would have looked very different.

Instead, because of the compassion of generous supporters, this little boy now has the opportunity to grow stronger each day, receive life-changing surgery, and experience the healthy future every child deserves.