Surgery a boon for people with facial deformities
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)