The Tragedy of Facial Deformities

Approximately 1 in 700 children in the world will be born with a cleft lip or palate deformity. With over 30 million births each year in China, it is estimated that there will be 40,000 new cases every year.

The real tragedy for many of these children in China is not being born with this deformity, but being too poor to do anything about it. In North America, the incidents of cleft lip and palate deformity are treated immediately after birth and children are able to lead normal, healthy and happy lives. The children of China, especially those in poor rural areas, are not so fortunate.

In these remote areas of China, children born with cleft lip and palate deformities are left untreated with little hope from their families to afford the surgery necessary to repair this condition. As a result, these children are condemned to a life of shame and isolation as social outcasts. Most are never allowed, or too ashamed, to go to school, or to have a job. Most will never marry or have a family. Many are abandoned by their families and have to fend for themselves on the streets as one of the homeless.

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