Since 2013, we have been supporting a young girl by the name of Princess. She was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. When Princess was just 4 months old, she received her first surgery at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. Up until now Princess has undergone three operations – one cleft lip repair and two cleft palate repairs.
She was due for her fourth surgery last year, which has been postponed because of Lockdown, as all elective surgeries were put on hold.
When Princess was born, her mother Sylvia was very shocked and emotional and did not expect her baby to be born with a cleft lip and palate as she had three healthy kids before. Her husband didn’t take it well and wanted to hide Princess and not let people see her because of the stigma attached to being born with an abnormality.
Princess is now 7 years of age, she is thriving, she exceptionally confident, she loves talking and interacting with other people and gives the biggest hugs.
