F ID I C H A RI T Y XXXXXXX One of the lucky ones ... a young patient gets a new chance at life thanks to FIDI donations, during the latest FIDI OSH mission The impact of this action goes beyond the 300 children youve helped it has changed the lives of their families and communities, too through these difficult moments. All of them want to be comforted in knowing that their son or daughter will be all right, that they did the right thing much like any of you would, if it were your child. At the end of the day, we are all the same, some luckier than others to have been born in one place and not another. We experience similar emotions and problems, similar joys, fears and hopes. But we are lucky to have been blessed with the possibility of being able to solve our problems with a bit more ease than the parents of our patients. Their life on the edge of formal society and lack of formal education means they often dont have the knowledge or access to it to understand and solve the problems life throws at them. Time passes very slowly as we sit outside those operating rooms. Its impressive to see how their eyes are fixed on the doors waiting for someone to come outwith news. And when you get the call to say:Willtheparents of please come and see your child, its impossible not to well up with tears as they do whenthey see their child with a closed lip or repaired palate. Shaking their heads, not believing their eyes, they splutter: My child is beautiful. After a few moments it sinks in that their child now has the chance to live. Nine out of 10 children will die if their condition is not treated. One operation costs around $500. That is what it costs to save a life, to give someone the chance of an education, to have a family, work and be a positive force for change in their community. We have almost reached the target we set four years ago, but we still need one last, little push. This is my last call to ask all of you to contribute to our cause. Every single donation goes directly 100 per cent to a child who needs an operation. Thank you. LAST CHANCE TO HELP REACH OUR TARGET A young patient presurgery during FIDIs latest OSH Mission in Honduras 22 FF290 pp20-23 Charity.indd 22 To make a donation to the FIDI Charity Project Operation Smile Honduras you can go to the special donation page at gofundme.com/ FIDI-Operation-Smile-Honduras-Fundraiser or contact Lydia Cope at charity@fidi.org Every cent counts! WWW. F I D I . OR G 13/03/2019 11:36