Make A Difference Today

I would like to say that my father Jesse DeLaGarza only 53 yrs. of age who recently went to be with his heavenly father on Jan. 25, 2012, made a huge difference in my life.  He instructed me in the ways of the Lord and impacted my life by setting an example of having a true relationship with Christ. He put God first and made it very clear that it didn't matter what religion you were, he chose to see past anybody's imperfections and never judged but just wanted everybody to know Christ as their personal savior and healer. He was a wonderful father and Pastor and for this I will always hide his teachings in my heart and be grateful to God for allowing me to have him as a earthly father.

Hi Scott,

Making a difference?  16 years ago, we had a daughter born with a bi-lateral cleft-lip and bi-lateral cleft palate.  God placed us in a loving church family and we were loved right through that difficult time.  My daughter is going to be having her seventh surgery the day after mother's day this may.  She is by far one of the greatest miracles and gifts from my father.  She has made a difference in our lives; and all that know and love her.  She is the biggest ray of sunshine ever!  She is so beautiful inside and out.  One day she said, "mom, I wouldn't change anything about my life.  cuz I know I can now, in turn make a difference in other's lives because of the way I was born."  Talk about a humbling moment in time!  She wants to be an occupational therapist after graduation.  I want to correct you, Scott.  The little boy that was born with a cleft palate was also born with a cleft lip.  The cleft palate wouldn't so much make his life miserable in his society.  It's the cleft lip that most people will notice and taunt and dehumanize him for it.  When we ventured out with our newborn daughter to an amusement park, this little girl saw her from behind,(I had my baby resting over my shoulder).  She screamed, "Oh my ###, what did you do to your baby?"  She had never been exposed to a person born with a facial defect.  As a mother, the lion in me wanted to arise and protect my defenseless young.  It took everything to control my anger and hurt against this ignorant child, and turned that moment into a teachable moment, and shared with the child, the harsh truth about a baby born with a bi-lateral cleft lip.  My daughter had a bi-lateral cleft palate as well, but noone would notice that in an infant.

We have given a monetary donation to help the little boy with his surgery to correct his cleft lip and cleft palate.  As a mother, it's heartbreaking to see raw ignorance from those who've never been exposed to a facial birth defect.  I can only painfully imagine what our lives would have been like if we were born in a society where help to correct a cosmetic appearance is too far out of reach due to lack of skilled professionals and finances....Our family is so blessed to live in the US.  We do not take that for granted.  As we hand our child over to the skilled professionals, for the seventh time, please keep our family in prayer.  This surgery will be one of the hardest and most painful in recovery time for our child.  Our families prayers are with any child born without financial help to repair a cleft-lip and cleft palate.  God bless them and help them financially to restore thier broken lives.  People can be cruel and devasting to a beautiful child that has no control over the way they were born.  Ignorance causes blindness and unfair superficial judgment that cripples that child's self-esteem and self-worth.  God protect them with your love and grace and mercy.