Thanks to OBI donors, these two children were able to have their cleft lip and palate repaired.

Shanker, left and Mamitha were both born with a cleft lip and palate.

ORISSA, India - Duka and her husband, Janardhan, felt their lives had been doubly cursed.

After five years of marriage, the couple decided to have a baby. But when their son, Shanker, was born with a cleft lip, people in their remote village considered the birth defect a curse.

A cleft lip is a deformity that affects approximately one in every 700 infants and results from the lip and/or palate failing to close during fetal development.

The birth defect can create hearing, speech and dental problems – and in severe cases – prevent a child from getting the proper nutrition due to chewing and swallowing problems

"When a child is born with a cleft lip in India, celebration turns to sadness," said Kumar Periasamy, regional director for OBI India.

With no access to medical facilities and no money to pay for a surgery, Duka and her family tried to accept their fate and move on. Three years later, she gave birth to a daughter, Mamitha. But the news of her birth proved doubly shocking: Mamitha had also been born with a cleft lip.

"Neighbors told them their children could have corrective surgery," said Shirley Joyce, a representative with Operation Blessing, "but it would cost them more than what they could earn in their entire lifetime."

Then, a villager told Duka and her husband about possibly receiving a free surgery for the children, and the family decided to make the 621-mile journey to the hospital in Madhya Pradesh. To help the family, friends and neighbors raised money for their trip.

Thanks to OBI donors, the children were able to have the corrective surgeries and return to school. The family was also given a place to stay at no charge and provided daily meals while the surgeries were being performed.

Padhar Hospital, in partnership with OBI, performed 10 free surgeries in one day.

"No one will tease my children anymore," Duka said. "They look like any other normal child."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

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