During the last trip to China, I was able to enjoy multiple visits with the children at the special needs orphanage supported by Global Partners in Life. There is one boy there that is so full of life and energy that he is hard to keep an eye on. Would you like to see a picture of him?
Global Partners in Life has provided the funding for two cleft pallet surgeries for him, and he was showing me how he has healed! After recovering from his second operation, he has started speaking! His condition was severe, so he doesn’t enunciate his words very well, but at least now he is trying — before the surgery, he didn’t speak much at all.
To correct his lip, muscle from the area surrounding the two gaps in his lip had to be pulled into place, but there wasn’t enough muscle to cover all of the area needed. The lack of muscle prevented the doctors from forming his lip completely as they wanted. When he eats certain foods, the food may spill out of his mouth.
He will require at least one more surgery. After the lip has been closed and the gum has been closed, then an additional operation is required to close the gap in the roof of the mouth. My little friend has a large gap to close in the roof of his mouth, and the doctors hope everything they need to do can be accomplished in one operation.