Jinky, an 11-year-old girl from Philippines, is a diligent grade four student. She is responsible and sets a good example to her younger two siblings. Jinky wakes up early each morning because she has to walk a kilometer and a half to get to school. She aspires to finish school and seek a job so she can help lift her family from poverty.
Jinky was born with syndactyly, a condition in which some or all of the toes or fingers are united. Jinky’s fourth and fifth toes have been conjoined since birth. She is the only one among her siblings with this deformity, which concerns her and makes her question why she is different from them.
Jinky needs syndactyly repair surgery, which means that her fused toes will be surgically separated and skin grafts applied. The $1,489 procedure, which includes transport to and from the hospital, is too much for Jinky’s parents to afford. Her father works as a laborer in a rubber farm and he is the family’s sole earner. He earns $20 a month, though this is variable and dependent on the quantity of rubber he harvests. Jinky’s mother stays at home to take care of the younger two children.
Let’s help fund the operation that will allow Jinky to get back to school. “I am very happy that the time I have waited for for so long has finally arrived. I pray for this, morning and evening,” says Jinky. “I am very grateful for the persons that helped me to have this operation. I will always pray for you. After this I will continue schooling to help my family someday. I am happy because after this I will not be bullied anymore.”
