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A second chance for Lucas

Cleft children from all over the world

28-10-2021

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Lucas likes bus rides. Even though he has a long journey ahead of him this time: is setting out on a 500 km journey with his parents to get surgery for his cleft lip and palate from our partner organization Ayninakuna in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

“I was very, very sad and felt guilty when we found out at an ultrasound appointment in the fifth month of pregnancy that our child would be born with a cleft” Jonathan, Lucas’ father tells us.

Jonathan is still studying, and Lucas’ mother Yogerli takes care of the household. When the two learn about the free treatment option in Cochabamba, they are very relieved. Full of hope, they set off on the long journey. But a big disappointment awaits them: During the obligatory COVID-19 test before the surgery, Lucas tests positive and cannot be operated on. Yogerli can’t hold back the tears. Our surgeon, Dr. Eligio, assures the parents that their boy will have surgery as soon as possible, but first he needs to recover from his infection.

Once Lucas has recovered from his Covid infection, the family again embarks on the long journey to Cochabamba. This time, the pre-surgery corona test comes back negative and Lucas is able to have his surgery, which goes without any problems. For his parents, a dream comes true. Yogerli confesses: “To be honest, I cried a lot the first few months after Lucas was born. It hurt me a lot to see him like that. Now that his cleft lip surgery is done, I’m very happy because I see that there is a solution.”

By now, Dr. Eligio has also closed Lucas’ cleft palate. The little boy can now look forward to a hopeful future. A surgery costs only 300 euros. Help cleft children like Lucas now with your donation – every contribution counts!

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Lucas in the bus on his way to the clinic in Cochabamba.

Lucas is all set for his operation.

A few weeks after the operation: Lucas comes in for his routine checkup.

Lucas’ parents sent this picture to our partner organization when they first inquired about the possibility of getting treatment.

DCKH Cleft children from all over the world From our projects Videos

DCKH

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The ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, who died in 1324 BC, is a historical figure known to many for the sensational artwork found in his tomb, including a spectacular death mask. What is less known is that the young deceased, like many people living today, was born and lived with a cleft palate.

New genetic study sheds light on how cleft lip and palate forms

There is still no reliable method to prevent the development of a cleft lip and palate. This is in no small part due to the fact that there is not one clear cause: Cleft has a multifactorial origin. One important factor is genetic. Here too, however, the situation is not clear-cut - there is no such thing as "the cleft gene". A group of researchers at the University of Bonn has now added to our knowledge about cleft by investigating the 98% of genes that do not themselves directly contain blueprints for proteins.

Daimler Symphony Orchestra: Charity concert for Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe

On Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, the Daimler Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, with pianist Marcel Mok and under its longtime musical director Matthias Baur, played a benefit concert for the Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe. The orchestra, a project of music enthusiasts from the Daimler Group, has been in existence since 1978. Former Stuttgart mayor Dr. Wolfgang Schuster gave a welcoming address.

Cleft children from all over the world

Cristóbal, a child with cleft lip and palate from Bolivia

In June 2020, Cristóbal is born with a cleft lip and palate in El Alto, Bolivia. His mother takes care of Cristobal and his two siblings and the household. His father's meager salary as a bricklayer is just enough to survive. At the clinic where Cristóbal was born, his parents received no information about his cleft lip and palate or treatment options, and the couple's family did not support them either. But Cristóbal's story has a happy ending.

Impressions from our project country Vietnam

The work in our project country Vietnam has been accompanied by the Munich doctors Dr. Denys J. Loeffelbein and Dr. Daniel Lonic since 2016. In December 2022, the two visited their colleagues and friends in Vietnam again for the first time after a pandemic-forced break of three and a half years. Here are some impressions of the work and the people there.

New hope for Noor

Noor is the Bengali word for "light". When the expectant parents Nipu and Nazmul chose this name for their unborn daughter, they did not yet know that the first months of their child's life would be clouded by a shadow: Noor was born with a bilateral cleft lip. The parents have no money for the necessary treatment and are very worried about their daughter's future. But a ray of hope is not long in coming...

From our projects

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December 2022: Project visit in Vietnam

Our help for children with cleft lip and palate would be impossible without our network of helpers. In addition to many local surgeons and other medical professionals in the partner countries, this network also includes volunteers who support our local teams with passion and skill. An intercultural exchange that is enriching for both sides. The work in our project country Vietnam has been accompanied since 2016 by the Munich doctors Dr. Denys J Loeffelbein and Dr. Daniel Lonic. In December 2022, the two visited their colleagues and friends in Vietnam again for the first time since the pandemic.

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Videos

The story of Maui, cleft child from Colombia

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Video: Impressions from Bolivia

The parents of our cleft children are always full of gratitude. When their child is born with cleft, they often do not know what to make of the malformation, much less that it can be treated. And even if they do - most of our little patients come from the poorest of backgrounds. Their parents could never afford the operation. It is an unimaginable happiness for them to learn that their children can receive qualified treatment, and free of charge even. This wonderful, touching film from our Bolivian aid project captures these special moments of happiness.

Video: Impressions from Pakistan

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