Turning Heartbreak into Joy 

Rosta can never forget how she felt on the day when her daughter, Achava, was born with a cleft lip and palate. “I was heartbroken when I saw her because I knew we could not afford surgery to fix it,” she told CBN with tears in her eyes. 

Rosta said she had been extremely nauseous during her 1st trimester of the pregnancy and blamed herself for her daughter's condition. “I consumed medicine each time I felt nauseous,” she added. Sometimes I wondered if I caused the cleft palate from taking that medicine.” 

As a Christian, Rosta said she cried out to God for help. “I said, ‘Why God, why? Why do you give us a child without giving us the money to fix her lip or buy what she needs?’” she said, sobbing. Then her husband Rudi got laid off from work.“I grew hopeless,” he said. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to pay for her surgery.” 

Then one day Operation Blessing met with the family and arranged for Achava to receive free surgery to repair her cleft lip. “I am so happy to see my daughter now smiling happily,” said Rosta smiling. “I am grateful and now she looks beautiful!” 

We went back a few months later and found Achava’s lip had healed nicely.  

“Thank you so much to Operation Blessing and especially to all the donors,” said Rudi. “I hope that you will be able to help more families like ours! Thank you.”

Thank you so much and God bless you,” said Rosta with a smile.