Via Sheylara

Sheylara’s friend, Jesta, has a very beautiful baby girl named Natalie. For the past six months, Natalie, who is all of six months old, had gone through numerous surgeries to correct her cleft lip. While I will not dare to claim that I understand how Jesta feels, I can certainly empathize.

I think of them having to handle the terrifying emotions of having their baby go through not one but numerous surgeries - and which will carry on throughout her life till she is 18, and the pain of their child going through pain that I am sure they will gladly bore if they could - and my heart really goes out to them.

Such a purdy face!

On the brighter side, I am glad that Natalie has the opportunity to have her cleft lip corrected. According to Operation Smile, there are

children in areas of our world that lack access to adequate health care don’t have the luxury of affordable plastic surgery. It is caring individuals that donate to charity organizations like Operation Smile that give these children and their parents the hope for a healthy future free of shame. Statistics on plastic surgery show that even in the United States, many children whose families lack health care coverage rely on the caring individuals who donate to charity organizations.

In many countries, citizens don’t have access to statistics on plastic surgery to understand the commonality, causes, and treatments for cleft lip. Many children are terribly abused and neglected because of their deformity. Parents lacking the resources to help their child with cleft lip often feel an incredible sense of guilt and are grateful beyond expression to those who donate to charity.

Many people who donate to charity for cleft lip reconstructive surgery are other parents who have experienced the same emotions but have been more fortunate in their desire to see their child smile their best smile. Others who donate to charity for restorative surgery for children are those who understand the incredible impact that a smile and a positive self image can have on the quality of life.

How you can help

1. Take a moment to look at the Operation Smile website to learn more about the condition. Click HERE to DONATE
2. Attend the WAFF Carnival on July 13, 2008, at *scape Youth Park.WAFF (Warm and Fuzzy Feeling) seeks to increase awareness of cleft lip and palate conditions, as well as raise funds in support of the Cleft and Craniofacial Support Group.
3. Attend the IGNITE Music Festival 2008 at Republic Polytechnic on July 25-26 because this event also supports the cause.
4. Spread the word/ plug in your blogs.
5. Educate our children to empathize and to be sensitive, so that they will not grow up to be adults who “stare or look away in horror“. My kids and I have volunteered with people with physical disabilities and children with Down Syndrome - it warms my heart that they respond with genuine warmth and acceptance. We may not be able to do much with deep rooted prejudice in adults, but let’s start with our children when we can.