Surgery a boon for people with facial deformities
JAKARTA (JP): Being born with facial deformities would have meant a sad future for baby boy Gilang and teenager Danisih only a few years ago.
But financial support and counseling in the benefits of undergoing surgery for what are known in medical vernacular as craniofacial deformities are brightening up their lives.
The Citra Baru Foundation encouraged the parents of both Gilang and Danisih to let their children undergo surgery, which the parents considered exorbitantly expensive.
Eighteen-month-old Gilang was born with a harelip and cleft palate, which made it difficult for him to breast-feed. It was a heavy burden for his parents Andre Suherman, 27, and Iis Nur Aisah, 22.
"Of course, we were anxious about how he would live his life with the deformity as we could do nothing to cure him," Andre said on Tuesday.
"We just surrendered his fate to God."
Originally from Bandung in West Java, the couple lives in Bali, where Andre worked as a sidewalk clothing vendor until recently. On its meager income, the family was forced to buy powdered milk for Gilang after it became impossible for the infant to feed from his mother.
Iis said their hopes for a better face for their son were stoked when a nurse told them about the Citra Baru Foundation and its assistance to people with facial deformities.
"Thanks to the foundation, Gilang has undergone surgery three times, although the results are still far from perfect," she said.
"How could we afford the total cost of Rp 8.5 million if there was no such foundation?"
Gangrenous
It was a similar dilemma for Danisih, 17, who has gangrenous growths around her mouth.
The teenager from Pemalang, Central Java, did not want much in life, only the opportunity to earn a living and become financially independent from her farming family.
But she was troubled that her looks would stand in the way of her landing a job.
"Who wants to employ people with deformities?" she said. She has undergone corrective surgery and is recuperating.
Citra Baru's secretary Gaye Warren said the foundation had helped 4,730 patients nationwide through facial surgery and follow-up medical treatment since its establishment in 1989.
"Every month there are about 16 new patients here, while we can provide medication only if we receive donations," she said on Tuesday after receiving the donation of a minibus from the Jakarta branch of the Royal Society of St. George's at the foundation's office in South Jakarta.
She said the foundation focused providing assistance to younger people to ensure they could have a brighter future.
"That's the reason why the recipients of our aid should be under 25 years old."
Warren said every year the foundation, which has four branches and four representative offices throughout the country, also held mass facial operations in different cities, including Padang in West Sumatra, Buton in Southeast Sulawesi and Medan in North Sumatra.
But she said the foundation would try to help all people with craniofacial deformities without discriminating.
"Since we rely on people's donations, we always ask our patients to compensate the surgery costs as much as they can afford to pay," she said.
For the very poor or people from other cities, the foundation also provides transportation allowances and accommodation at the foundation office, which currently has room for 16 patients.
Warren said the foundation approached public community health centers (Puskesmas) to spread information about the foundation to the poor families who usually seek treatment at the facilities.
"We do not set complicated requirements for those who need our help. Just send us medical records from the Puskesmas, photographs and official letters or recommendations from their respective subdistrict chiefs, stating that they belong to poor families," she said.
People interested in obtaining the foundation's assistance can call (021) 718-0650 or visit the office at Jl. Bangka Buntu I No. 49, Pela Mampang subdistrict, South Jakarta. (ind)