10 for 10

Children in Asia are three times more likely to be born with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate than children in any other part of the world.

Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when the developing baby’s mouth does not form properly. In the case of cleft lip, a split is left in the tissue of the upper lip that may extend up into the nasal cavity. In cleft palate, the growth plates that form the roof of the baby’s mouth (palate) fail to close, leaving a crack or a large opening. The child may have a single split on one side of the mouth that ranges in size from a small indentation to a crevice that extends into the nose. Sometimes a child will have a cleft on both sides of the upper lip that can extend into the nose, creating a large gap in the child’s facial tissue. Cleft lip and cleft palate can occur separately or together.

Cleft lip and cleft palate result in feeding problems in infants as well as speech delays in older children. If the cleft is left untreated, the feeding problems can lead to malnutrition or failure to thrive. Some children may have frequent ear infections and a higher incidence of dental cavities.

Cleft surgery costs around $1,000 in China and transforms the life of a child affected by this condition. Repairs are very neat and leave minimal scarring. Please help us to change the life of a child affected by cleft!

Here are some before and after pictures showing the results of a successful cleft surgery for an orphaned child:

Baby girl before her cleft surgery

Same girl after her cleft surgery

Here is one of the children we will be helping – Frank.

Frank joined my foster care programme soon after his birth. Following medical examinations he was found to have a hernia and possibly some developmental delays.

Thanks to the Love Without Boundaries foster care programme he now lives with a loving family and is thriving. We are huge advocates for foster care where children are unable to remain with their families. Children in foster care can experience the warmth of family life which they would not have if they were in an institution. And the difference can be seen in children like Frank. Love Without Boundaries foster care ensures that the foster family receives a monthly payment to be able to provide nutritious food, warm clothing, toys and basic medical care for the children to give them the best possible start in life.

Frank when he arrived in our foster care programme

Frank after a few months with his foster family

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