The First Step to Healing: Inside Pediatric Clearance at Tebow CURE
Tebow CURE Children’s Hospital’s mission is rooted in healing the sick and proclaiming the kingdom of God. We do this by helping kids with treatable conditions access specialized surgeries through sponsorship. For little kids, surgery is one of the biggest undertakings in their lives. Most adults hesitate to go under the knife, and the kids we help are being ushered in and out of the operating room. Where does this level of trust come from? It comes from being prepared even before the surgery starts.
As one of the few specialized hospitals in the country, we uphold the highest level of care for the kids we serve. This starts from our clinics. Each patient will meet the pediatrician on duty. A pediatrician is a specialized doctor who focuses on the physical, emotional, and social health of children and young adults. They conduct check-ups, track growth and development, diagnose and treat infections, injuries, and illnesses. They also help parents through offering advice on nutrition, fitness, and child safety. These are all essential to ensuring that a child is fit to undergo one or more corrective surgeries.
Janro’s Story
We met Janro at one of his clinic appointments. He was born with a cleft lip and palate, a condition that made feeding a struggle for him due to the gap in his upper lip extending to his gum and the opening at the roof of his mouth. Aside from having a cleft, he was also diagnosed with other conditions that affected his health. “I couldn’t stop crying. I was worried about Janro’s future because I knew for sure he would be bullied. I was bullied growing up because of my physical appearance, and I couldn’t bear the thought of my son facing the same cruelty,” Janine, Janro’s mother, sadly shared
As a teacher, Janine began to think ahead. She told her husband that when Janro started school, she would teach at the same school, even suggesting she might move between grade levels to protect Janro from bullying. Janine was determined to get Janro the surgery he needed because she knew she couldn’t always shield him from the world.
When Janro was five months old, Janine learned about Tebow CURE Children’s Hospital through the hospital where she had given birth. She made an appointment for Janro, but the road to surgery wasn’t easy. Janro struggled with nutritional problems, which constantly delayed his surgery. “Physically and emotionally, I am exhausted but refuse to give up. I draw strength from my faith in God and my love for my son,” Janine added. After seven long months, Janro finally reached the required weight for surgery! He underwent his first surgery in 2024 to correct his cleft lip. A few months later, he underwent his second surgery, closing the opening at the roof of his mouth. Because of Tebow CURE’s partnership with Smile Train, Janro is now cleft-free, receiving comprehensive care at the hospital without any complications from surgery.
“For our patients, we usually do history taking. We interview the parent or guardian, usually the mother or the father, about the patient’s medical history. We ask if there were any other complications during and after giving birth,” CURE Pediatrician Dr. DX shared when asked about the usual pediatric clearance procedure. “We also have to know if they were already seen by doctors before, if there were any other interventions taken before seeing us in the hospital,” she added.
Pediatric clearance at Tebow CURE starts with a consult, followed by a series of laboratory tests to ensure the patient is healthy in all respects before undergoing surgery. “Patients who don’t get cleared are usually underweight or are currently sick, having a cough or cold. We make sure they are treated, and we address their weight issue with the help of our nutritionist. We also make them understand that this delay does not mean that they will not get the surgery. This is just to make sure that they are healthy before the surgery,” Dr. DX shared regarding the process of the clearance.
Undergoing pediatric clearance is one step taken to ensure patient safety. It optimizes a child’s health, minimizes anesthesia risks, and prevents surgery cancellations by identifying underlying conditions and ensuring that the child is in the best possible physical state. The intentional steps we take ensure that we not only deliver world-class health services but, most importantly, put our patients’ safety at the heart of what we do.
“With my five years of experience here at Tebow CURE, I feel very fulfilled serving the kids at the hospital. My heart is full because I get to help them. I get to watch them improve and see them fully healed because of the work that I do,” happily expressed by Dr. DX.
In stories like Janro’s, we see that healing is never just about the procedure—it is about preparation, perseverance, and the belief that every child deserves a chance at a full and healthy life. Tebow CURE Children’s Hospital walks alongside families, ensuring that no step is taken without care, intention, and compassion. Janro’s journey reminds us that behind every successful surgery is a team committed not only to medical excellence but to restoring hope to every child and family they serve.
But there are many more children like Janro still waiting for their chance at healing. You can be part of their story too. You can support, advocate for, or share this mission with others; your actions can help bring life-changing care to children who need it most. Together, we can continue to open doors to healing—and give every child the future they deserve. Help make healing possible.
