Cleft Lip Repair Changes Everything—Ask Kidus!

Parenting offers plenty of anxious moments. But for parents with medically fragile children in countries where access to healthcare is limited, every moment is a challenge. 

Just ask Mekdes in Ethiopia.

When her son, Kidus, entered the world dramatically during an unexpected home birth, she was terrified. 

“My water suddenly broke . . . and I didn’t think I would have a safe delivery,” she recalls. 

When Kidus appeared healthy, she breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did she notice the gap in his upper lip.

“I was so relieved, seeing his cleft lip didn’t shock me, ” she said. 

Cleft lip is a congenital condition where the tissue of a baby’s upper lip fails to fuse together during pregnancy, leaving a gap. Cleft lip commonly occurs along with cleft palate, which is an opening or split in the roof of the mouth. If left untreated, cleft conditions can cause breathing, speaking, and eating difficulties, and make those with clefts the target of social discrimination.

While Mekdes wasn’t shocked by her son’s condition, she was aware of the social stigma and bullying children with disabilities often face. She knew little Kidus, whose name means “holy” in Amharic, needed help. So as soon as she had recovered from giving birth, she took Kidus to the local hospital, which referred them to CURE Ethiopia. 

World-Class Surgical and Spiritual Care

Kidus was among the 1 in 700 babies born with cleft lip and/or palate globally each year. This condition can be attributed to a variety of causes, including genetic factors, lack of nutrition, and environmental elements during pregnancy. In most cases, the reason is unknown. 

Fortunately, thanks to the world-class medical care provided by the team at CURE Ethiopia, in partnership with Smile Train, Kidus won’t have to live the rest of his life with a cleft lip. 

CURE’s compassionate care began once Mekdes and Kidus arrived at the facility. The staff provided a complete medical exam, education and counseling for Kidus’s family, and even time for fun in our playroom. 

Then, thanks to the generous support of our donors, Dr. Tesfaye, CURE Ethiopia’s highly skilled plastic and reconstructive surgeon, was able to repair Kidus’s lip—at no cost to his family. 

CURE’s Dedication to Comprehensive Care

After surgery at CURE, patients receive continuing care with post-op evaluations, physical therapy, and rehab services. Our spiritual ministry team also provides emotional and spiritual support by teaching patients and their families about God’s love through His Word. These services are part of CURE’s dedication to comprehensive care and seeing every patient through the complete healing process. 

It was during one of Kidus’s post-op check-ups that doctors realized he needed a second surgery to relieve a build-up of fluid in his ears. This is a common complication in children with cleft conditions. 

So a few months after his cleft lip was repaired, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon performed a 10-minute procedure to insert small tubes, known as grommets, into Kidus’s eardrums. The tubes allowed the fluid from the middle of his ears to drain. He will continue to return to CURE Ethiopia so doctors can monitor his healing. 

Mekdes is incredibly thankful for the compassionate and comprehensive care Kidus has received at CURE Ethiopia. She asks us to please “continue caring for children with disabilities, especially in rural areas, who are hidden from society because of shame and stigma.”

CURE is grateful for our partners and supporters who make it possible for children like Kidus to receive life-changing surgeries. 

All medical and ministry care is provided at no cost to children and their families, made possible by the generous support of CURE partners and donors.

Click here to learn more about cleft lip and how we treat the condition at CURE.

Make a gift that demonstrates the love of Christ to more children like Kidus by providing the surgical care they urgently need.