Columbia Facial Plastic Surgery -- David Chang, MD

Kenya 2011: Susan

columbiafacialplastic — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:02:47 +0000

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

columbiafacialplastic — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:28:13 +0000

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

columbiafacialplastic — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:06:34 +0000

Click to view slideshow.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

columbiafacialplastic — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:54:39 +0000

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

columbiafacialplastic — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:03:53 +0000

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

columbiafacialplastic — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:40:42 +0000

Click to view slideshow.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

columbiafacialplastic — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:44:22 +0000

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.

Return and Reflection

columbiafacialplastic — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:49:38 +0000

We’ve finally returned to the states this past weekend. Our two week stay in Kijabe went well. We were able to perform 76 surgeries and bring at least 20 families closer to God. No major complications were encountered. Every year, this trip reminds me of the bounty that we are blessed with. I thank all those that travelled with us, the nurses and staff in Kenya, and those that supported us at home.

To see all of our posts from the trip, click on the links to the right. Donations to help this endeavor can be made to Bethany Relief and Rehabilitation International (http://bethanykids.org/how-can-you-help/donations).

More faces from the 201o Kenya Cleft Lip/Palate Mission

Day 12: Nkinyi

columbiafacialplastic — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:12:48 +0000

Nkinyi upon her arrival at the hospital

Nkinyi is a two year old girl with bilateral cleft lip and palate who comes from a Masai village near Amboseli National Park with her aunt. The Masai people are among the most well known of African ethnic groups due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa. Traditionally nomadic, the Masai have been resistant to more modern lifestyles. Through CURE Hospital mobile clinics, patients with facial clefts are evaluated and encouraged to travel to Kijabe for surgery. In Nkinyi’s village, there are two other children with facial cleft disorders. However, trepidation and uncertainty prevent some from making the journey. For the Masai, many fear that those who are put to sleep for surgery will not reawaken. Furthermore, others believe that surgical procedures for clefts would be unsuccessful or ineffective. Only Nkinyi and her aunt were strong and resolute enough to make the 6 hour trip to Kijabe. They arrived on our last operating day. Although we normally try not to operate on patients the same day they arrive, we felt that we needed to make an exception for this child. Nkinyi was observed fasting for the required 8 hours in the hospital before her surgery was performed.

The day after her procedure, Nkinyi was drinking milk and eating porridge well. She will come back on another date for repair of her cleft palate. We pray that Nkinyi’s return to her village will be an inspiration of hope to the other two cleft children in her community.

Nkini, with her aunt, eating the day after her procedure

Day 11: Grace

columbiafacialplastic — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:21:45 +0000

Grace was born with bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate. She returned to Kijabe for further surgical management of her palate. English is her favorite subject in school and she loves to read. The day after surgery, Grace declared that when she grows up she wants to be a doctor. Given her strong character, steadfast resolution, and God’s will, all things are possible. In addition to her post-operative instructions and medications, we placed some English children’s books we had brought in her discharge bag as her parting gift.

Grace with one of her English books