Restoring smiles
Quick Links: cleft palate story facts about cleft palate
Cleft palate occurs when the tissues of the lip or palate don't form in early in pregnancy.
This leaves an opening between the roof of the mouth and the nasal cavity.
Cleft palate is a devastating disability because it is visually disfiguring and the social stigma can force children into hiding.
In some countries, these children are called Ajok, which means cursed.
Worse, the cleft can keep babies from sucking or swallowing properly, so malnutrition and starvation are common.
Here at CBM, we believe all children are beautiful, and our surgeons are the experts in restoring smiles.
Frank's story
Zainabu cradles baby Frank close. His mouth makes a sucking motion, gaping at the air.
A severe cleft palate has joined Frank’s mouth to his nose in a mess of lips and tiny teeth.
Worse than the disfigurement, Frank can’t suck properly.
When he is fed, milk spills out of his mouth and nasal passage.
Frank is undernourished, underweight and anaemic.
He is fortunate though. Frank received nutrition at a CBM hospital and a smile restoring operation. At just six months, his chances of full recovery are good.
The surgery went well. His lips and gums are joined, and the gap between his mouth and nasal passage is almost closed.
When Frank is bigger and develops his hard palate, he’ll have a final surgery to seal the remaining gap.
“I am happy that Frank can now suck properly so he can grow.”
“Now there is no comparing him with other children – he is exactly like other children. He is normal.”
Facts about cleft palate
- It costs only $250 for surgery to repair a child’s cleft lip.
- Surgery for Cleft lip and palate costs $500.
- More boys than girls have a cleft lip, while more girls have cleft palate without a cleft lip.
- Clefts can occur on one side of the mouth (unilateral clefting) or on both sides of the mouth (bilateral clefting).