Family's long trip out of the jungle brings hope, smiles

THE WASHICTA FAMILY took a long, arduous route to bring their children to see the Plasticos Foundation team.

The Washicta family lives in the deep Amazon. To be seen by Plasticos doctors, they had to travel two hours in a canoe and walk for 45 minutes to meet a small bush plane for a flight into Macas.

Etza is 5 years old. He was born with a cleft lip and palate. The lip has been repaired but the palate remains.

His cousin, Roland, is 6 months old with a cleft lip. Etza's sister, Nanta, is 4 months old and also has a cleft lip. She is recovering from whooping cough and is too malnourished for surgery. The Plasticos team hopes one day to operate on her. Etza and Roland underwent surgery on Nov. 18.

ROLAND WASHICTA won the hearts of medical team members with his sweet disposition. He is shown the day after surgery to correct his cleft lip.

Roland Washicta came through surgery to repair his cleft lip "beautifully," according to his doctors.

The 6-month-old won the hearts of the Plasticos Foundation team members with his sweet disposition.

With his cleft lip fixed, Roland's family is happy and grateful. The Washicta family lives in the deep Amazon. To be seen by Plasticos doctors, they had to travel two hours in a canoe and walk for 45 minutes to meet a small bush plane for a flight into Macas, Ecuador.