Cleft Lips And Palates: Why they Happen & What We Can Do

My friend Kirsten had a great idea for her birthday which hasn’t come to pass and that’s partly my motivation for writing this article and the other is when one doesn’t know the answer to a question that individual needs to seek answers to expand their wealth of knowledge. The vast majority of those who have clefs live in Africa and don’t have the financial means to do so. There are originations that provide services to children with this anomaly as does Operation Smile, however with the job market at an all time low and people not being able to secure health insurance in America, how must it be in Africa, a third world country that is pasted all over our television pleading for assistance when we don’t know where the money is sincerely going. “South Park” even did a parody of what everyone fears; when Kyle adopts a boy from Ethiopia and Sally Struthers was asking for that same donation and the money wasn’t going any I have known Kirsten since I was a young girl and there’s not motive in her body except to assist others and make quality of life better for those around her. I will give information on what one can do to do at the conclusion of this article.

According to www.kids health.org Orofacial clefts are birth defects that can be detected as early as 12 to 18 months old and can be cured. There is an opening in the lip and the roof of the mouth that doesn’t develop properly. On the bright side if one chooses to see one is that the cleft lip/palate occurs in one or two of every 1,000 American births each year. “A cleft palate may also vary in size, from a defect of the soft palate only to a complete cleft that extends through the hard palate. Because the lips and the palate develop separately, it is possible for a child to be born with a cleft lip only, cleft palate or both”. Usually seen among boys is the cleft lip alone, the cleft palate is commonly seen in girls than boys. Like so many other defects, having clefs do not discriminate against nationality either. They happen to occur more frequently amongst people of Hispanic, Asian and Native American decent.

The causes aren’t yet known, but mothers surrogate and natural are advised to be cautious of their environment, medications as always and there is a threat of genetics. Nothing was said in the article about Africans or the struggle their going through because they don’t have medications even to fight the common cold let alone enough resources for any surgical procedures. Do my friend Kirsten and I a favor and show other countries America’s not as spoiled as they think we are. Go to causes on facebook and wish Kirsten a happy birthday by helping those around us, making the world a little bit sweeter.