Oral-facial clefts are birth defects in which the tissues of the mouth or lip don't form properly during fetal development. In the United States, clefts occur in 1 in 700 to 1,000 births, making it the one of the most common major birth defects. Clefts occur more often in children of Asian, Latino, or Native American descent.
The good news is that both cleft lip and cleft palate are treatable birth defects. Most kids who are born with these conditions can have reconstructive surgery within the first 12 to 18 months of life to correct the defect and significantly improve facial appearance.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of 22 pediatric hospitals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico that provide specialized care for orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate. All services are provided at no charge.
Eligibility for care is not based on financial need or relationship to a Shriner.
If you know of a child Shriners Hospitals might be able to help, please call their toll-free patient referral line:
In the U.S.: 1-800-237-5055.
In Canada: 1-800-361-7256.
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At age three I was chosen by the Shrine Organization to receive medical treatment at the Shrine Hospital in Chicago to repair my cleft lip and palate.
I am now nineteen years old and have had approximately 14 surgery's. I was chosen to be the Ambassador for the Shrine and have been traveling around the United States performing and speaking at different Shrine Events.
My Mission is to "Give Back" to help Shriner's and to give "Thanks" for all their help and support throughout my life.
"I want to thank the Shriner's because without them I wouldn't be able to eat, talk, sing and play the alto sax. " "With the help of Shriner's, I am working towards my goal of becoming a Music Teacher and Speech Pathologist".
This is a picture of my Uncle Pat and I.
My Uncle Pat is a Shriner and is known
as "OOPPS The Clown"