Close your eyes and picture a fun-loving toddler learning a new language, singing songs, and exploring her environment – eager to learn about the world around her and everything it has to offer.

That’s Mayra, a two-year-old girl who was born with a very rare case of cloacal malformation, a developmental disorder that affects nearly one in every 50,000 babies. Mayra’s life was at risk due to impending renal failure and time was running out.

Mayra’s mother had no choice but to leave Guatemala and travel thousands of miles until she found Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Under the care of our Colorectal Center, Mayra underwent a successful surgery that completely changed and saved her life.