Cielo is a five-year-old active and playful child from the Philippines. He loves writing and drawing, and his favorite food is bread.
When he was born, it was discovered that he had an abnormal bowel condition. He was immediately referred for surgery. Six days after he was born, he had a colostomy, which diverts a piece of the colon to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall. Ever since his procedure, Cielo's parents have taken extreme care to ensure that he does not get an infection.
When Cielo reached the age of one, he had an intestine prolapse. He was brought back to the hospital for surgery, where the prolapsed intestines were excised and removed.
Cielo was supposed to have a PSARP, a procedure to repair the bowel condition, six months after his colostomy, but his parents were unable to fund the surgery. Eventually, his mother brought him to a pediatric surgeon for assessment. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), has scheduled the PSARP for April 28. ICM is requesting $1,500 to fund Cielo's treatment.
"I want Cielo to have a normal bowel movement, so that when he goes to school he will be confident and won't be bullied by others, and also for him to to be confident about himself," says Cielo's mother. "I will protect him as long as I am with him."