Piura, Peru 2010

A Rare Condition, a Unique Friendship

Piura, Peru - Michael Demian, ReSurge International associate director of foundations & corporate relations

Luis and Pablo were both born with a dark, disfiguring birthmarks across their faces. Despite living in distant towns in Peru, Luis and Pablo both grew up knowing all too well what it was like to be different.  Five years ago, while patiently waiting to be seen by ReSurge doctors, the two met and a beautiful friendship was born. 

After undergoing their first rounds of surgery, each boy returned home, but this time things were different. Not only was the mark across their face significantly smaller, they each knew they had the other for support.  Despite living four hours away from each other, Luis and Pablo have remained friends.  This year, ReSurge doctors removed what remained of their disfiguring birthmarks.  Afterwards, they each went back to their hometowns with new faces and a lifelong friend.

Anali

Piura, Peru - Michael Demian, ReSurge International associate director of foundations & corporate relations

Ninteen-year-old Anali has lived her whole life with half a nose.  When Anali was an infant, she received surgery for her thyroid glands and required a feeding tube for her recovery.  Tragically, the feeding tube was not clean and gave her an infection that eventually caused the nasal tissues and skin to deterioate away.  Anali has had a tough time growing up with people constantly staring at her or calling her names. One thing is for sure:  Anali comes from a very loving family and has a very close relationship with her mother.  Her mother told one of the surgeons that her daughter had been waiting for surgery for 19 years and they were praying for the day when someone would help them.  Anali did receive her surgery and a new nose, which will only make her beautiful smile shine brighter.

Luzveida

 
Piura, Peru - Michael Demian, ReSurge International associate director of foundations & corporate relations

Fifteen-year-old Luzveida was born with a hemangioma covering the right side of her face. The doctor who treated her used a chemical to remove the lesions, which left her with burn scars, as well as paralyzed the right side of her face. Luzveida, who loves to smile and collect stickers, comes from a poor family 16 hours away from Piura. She is being raised by a single mother and her older brother. In tears, her mother told the team that Luzveida desperately wants this surgery as her Christmas present, so she can be beautiful and find a job to help her family. Luzveida received surgery to allow the nerves in her right cheek to react to the movement of a smile. Luzveida posed for many pictures with the volunteers and took some with her to share with her classmates and teacher.

Franco

Piura, Peru - Michael Demian, ReSurge International associate director of foundations & corporate relations

Franco is a shy and very kind 18-year-old who experienced a tragic accident several years ago.  One morning, when Franco was 11 years old, he left home to attend a parade in his hometown. In Peru, much like in the United States, whenever there is a parade, the streets are closed off to cars.  Unfortunately, on that day, a drunk driver did not obey the rules and proceeded to drive on the wrong side of the street as Franco was crossing it.  The driver ran into Franco and dragged him under the car for a long distance, breaking his facial bones and knocking out his front teeth in the process.  Franco’s scars were unimaginable.  He’s received multiple surgeries from ReSurge and returned to our team this year to receive an additional surgery to improve some of the scarring and skin tightness on his face.