Kenya 2011: Susan

Susan was the first born to her mother. But instead of the excitement that usually accompanies the birth of a first child, Susan’s mother was met with the exact opposite reaction because of child’s cleft lip and palate. Her husband, family, and village kicked her out and told her to go back to where she came from. Instead, she came to Kijabe. With tears in her eyes, she remembers how horrible people treated Susan and her. But those tears have turned to tears of joy now that Susan’s lip operation is done. “I’m so happy now that she is beautiful.” Susan will come back this spring for repair of her palate.

Kenya 2011: Fariahiyo

Fariahiyo, 11 years old, travelled from the city of Dadaab, which is located in the eastern part of Kenya near the Somali border. Dadaab is the largest refugee camp in the world. Designed to hold 90,000 people, the city has swelled to over 450,000 refugees who have fled from violence, political unrest, and drought in Somalia. Health care is lean in Dadaab, where priority goes to public heallth issues and starvation. Once Fariahiyo’s sister found out that surgical treatment was available for cleft palates at CURE Hospital, she decided to take the initiative to get her sister here no matter what it would take. Fariahiyo underwent reconstruction of her palate and stayed in KIjabe for 3 days. She and her sister are all that their father has left since their mother past away. The girls will go back to rejoin their father in Dadaab.

Kenya 2011: Re-Joyce

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Earlier last week, we met 5-year-old Mildred and her 1-year-old sister Joyce. Although Mildred was relatively healthy enough for surgery, Joyce was extremely small and malnourished appearing. She initially was thought to weigh in at only 5 pounds, which was later reassessed to be 8 pounds–still extremely small for a child her age. Both she and her sister were born with bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate. The severe clefting of the lip impedes Joyce’s ability to adequately seal the lips around a nipple during breast feeding. In addition, the clefting of the palate (as well as the lip) prevents Joyce from creating suction. Our palates normally seal the nose from the mouth when we eat or draw air into our mouths. A clefted lip and palate essentially leaks air back into the mouth, which makes suckling difficult for a baby. Over the past week, Joyce stayed in the pediatric ward of neighboring Kijabe Hospital and gained nearly 2 pounds.  Although this weight gain was most likely from better hydration, the consulting pediatricians felt that she was strong enough to undergo surgery. She got her chance this Wednesday and all went smoothly. We are all so happy for Joyce and pray that both she and her sister will be back for their palate repair when the next team comes in March 2012.

Kenya 2011: Sunday

Sunday was the first child to his mother, and his cleft lip definitely didn’t stop her from celebrating. Unfortunately, her family and the other villagers were not as celebratory, criticizing his condition constantly. On top of that, doctors in their rural area of Pikot were discouraging, saying that nothing could be done for his condition. Thankfully, a woman named Rosemary took notice of them and knew about the work being done at CURE Hospital, so she brought them here for his treatment. Now Sunday’s mom can’t contain the happiness she felt upon seeing him after surgery – “I’m so excited to take him back and show him off.” He will make his mother proud.

Kenya 2011: Faith

Faith’s mom, Monica, was terrified after giving birth and seeing her daughter’s lip. “I just never thought I could give birth to a baby that looked like that.” Her fears were centered on the thought that maybe there wasn’t a cure. Thankfully that dissolved after some promising words from people around her, informing her that a treatment existed. They both came to Kijabe for a consultation and Faith underwent repair of her lip. Monica now feels much more relieved and encouraged. “I’m just very happy now for Faith. She’s looking so smart!”

Kenya 2011: Mildred

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Mildred and her baby sister came with their mother to our clinic. Both 5-year old Mildred and her baby sister were born with bilateral cleft lip and palate. Their story of hardship is heart wrenching. Mildred and her mother were chased out of their village soon after the birth of this baby. Those afflicted with cleft lip are seen as cursed and are often banished from their family and social environment. The husband/father had abandoned them and they were no longer welcome. Their mother struggles to provide them with food and basic necessities. They were brought to the hospital by a member of the CURE mobile clinic outreach program. The baby, although nearly one year of age, weighed only 5 pounds and was extremely emaciated. She unfortunately was not fit for surgery and instead was transferred next door to Kijabe hospital for further management of malnutrition.

 

Mildred, however, was able to undergo repair of her lip. While Mildred’s mother was with her baby sister, the CURE outreach member stayed with Mildred as she convalesced in the ward. She was reunited with her family a few days later. Mildred will hopefully return in March for repair of her bilateral cleft palate.

Kenya 2011: flying out

I’m happy to be traveling this year with some wonderful people to Kijabe. I thank my family and all the families that have allowed their loved ones to travel to Kenya with me.

Eric Dobratz, MD, Norfolk, VA
Michelle Vessely, MD, Lake Oswego, OR
Cam Kirchner, MD and Diane Kirchner, Lexington, SC
Jason Goodwin, MD and Bobbie Goodwin, Columbia, MO

Although it is a long airplane trip to Nairobi, I’m glad to have several hours where I can collect my thoughts. Leaving JFK. Next stop Amsterdam, then Nairobi.