Thank you from ME.. :)

Just as I was thinking of all my desires, for e.g. things I wanted to buy but it is not a MUST HAVE things, I suddenly remembered that I haven't summarized up my birthday fund-raising project! The total amount of fund raised for my 21st birthday was RM 1354.50. I thanks God for you, those who had donated, those who helped to spread the words and YOU who are following my 21st birthday project through my blog, because I am sure now you are aware of what is cleft lips and cleft palates.

Thank you to all those who had donated and helped to spread the words. I am still waiting for a few friends of mine who promised to give me the money by hand when I go back to KL. However, with the current amount, we can give a free surgery to a child and also some medications. I will further update you guys once I sent the money to Operation Smile. I will make everything transparent and accountable to donors through updates. You can also ask me any questions and I will entertain you :)

I was really touched by my 8 years old cousin, Ryan, he accompanied me when I was making the video of "21 years blessed to bless others". Later, he took out SGD0.40 from his moneybox and donated, he said he wanted to donate RM1.00 to help those kids! I was touched by his act!

Again thanks for lending a hand in making the difference. The kids need your help. Because there are people like YOU who care about them, the simple act of you will definitely put a smile on their face. Thank you, thank you and thank you again for giving them a surgery for a life time of SMILES. Together, we can make this world a better place to live. You may say that I m a dreamer, but I'm not the only one, I hope someday u will join me, to make this world a better place.

Blessed to bless :)

 

16th of July which is my 21st birthday and I would like to turn my birthday into a special fundraiser. This is my personal project to help those who are less fortunate in the effort to make a difference to change the world. It will be going on from 16th - 26th july. If you do plan to give me a gift, I would like you to consider donating to help those kids. All the money will 100% go directly to the Operation Smile. With an amount of RM719, Operation Smile medical team can provide a 45 minutes cleft lip or cleft palate surgery which can change a child's life forever. Just imagine, they can eat, talk, laugh like the other children. Pls do not feel obliged to donate, you can also help by spreading the words and let more people know about what is cleft lip and cleft palate. A simple act of yours can make a big difference!

For more sharing, click on:

Blessed to Bless others (ENGLISH VERSION)

被祝福，而祝福他人 (CHINESE VERSION)

Current amount of donation until 24th July 2011: RM 1354.50 :) 2 more days to go..

Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

What is a cleft lip and cleft palate?

A cleft is an opening in the lip, the roof of the mouth or the soft tissue in the back of the mouth. A cleft lip may be accompanied by an opening in the bones of the upper jaw and/or the upper gum. A cleft palate occurs when the two sides of a palate do not join together, resulting in an opening in the roof of the mouth. A cleft lip and palate can occur on one side or both sides. A child can suffer from a cleft lip, a clef palate or both.

What causes clefting?

The exact cause is unknown. Cleft lips and cleft palates are congenital defects that occur early in embryonic development. Scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as maternal illness, drugs or malnutrition, may lead to a cleft lip or cleft palate. If one child in a family is born with a cleft, the risk increases by 2 to 4 percent that the future children in the family will suffer from the same defect.

How frequently do cleft lips and cleft palates occur?

Cleft lip and/or palate occurs in approximately 1 per 500 - 700 births, the ratio verying considerably across geographic areas or ethnic groupings. (WHO International Collaborative Research on Craniofacial Anomalies)

Does a cleft lip or cleft palate cause problems for a child?

Ear disease and dental problems occur frequently, as do problems with proper speech development. Children who suffer from a cleft lip and/or cleft palate may have difficulty in eating. To address these issues, a child and family may work with a team of specialists - a pediatrician, a plastic surgeon, dental specialists, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist), a speech-language pathologist and audiologist, a geneticist and a psychologist/social worker.

Can clefting be prevented?

Scientists are researching methods to prevent cleft lips and cleft palates. One findings, according to research studies, is that mothers who take multivitamins containing folic acid before conception and during the first two months of pregnancy may reduce the risk of giving birth to a baby with cleft.

Can cleft lips and cleft palates be repaired?

Yes. Surgery provides excellent results. A pediatrician and a plastic surgeon work with a child's parents to choose the best timing for surgery. Most surgeons agree that a cleft lip should be repaired by the time a baby is 3 months old. To repair the partition of mouth and nose as early as possible, a cleft palate generally is repaired between the ages of 12 and 18 months. Any surgical procedure is dependent upon a child's general health and the nature of the cleft lip or cleft palate.

Facing crisis

"We often react in the wrong way when we face opposition or crisis. We can overcome overcautious, as the following responses show: "I will never witness in hostile surroundings again." "I will never suggest a radical departure from the norm again." "Maybe I should resign." Sometimes, we are overly aggressive in our responses. When we face any crisis, we really need the wisdom and boldness that comes from the Spirit." -Ajith Fernando in the book entitled Jesus Driven Ministry.