Oneof the most shocking deformities a newborn can have is a massivecleft. Clefts occur when certain body structures do not connectduring the development of the fetus. This usually leaves a wide gapbetween the lip and the palate. Children born with clefts areoftentimes thought of as retards, teased and ostracized by society,abandoned or even killed by their own parents.

      Acleft is the primary birth defect in the US and many other nations.Fortunately, there is a simple, 45-minute operation that can changethe lives of children with clefts forever. Smile Train, a globalcleft charity founded in 1999 by Brain Mullaney and Charles Wang,provides these procedures in developing countries for free. Themission of Smile Train is to provide cleft surgery for millions ofpoor children and to train local doctors and medical professionals toperform this surgery. With training, these doctors learn how to usegroundbreaking technology instead of waiting for Western doctors tovolunteer their time. This maximizes the efficacy and the number ofoperations that can be done.

       Havingsponsored nearly half a million operations over the last decade,Smile train is definitely making a difference. However, they are farfrom the 4.6 million cases it would take to eliminate worldwide.US$250 can sponsor one children and donating to Smile Train istransparent, says Mullaney. He also hopes to continue his work byusing the Smile Train model to help the poor with other medicalconditions such as club foot or congenital heart defects. (Ivy 1/6)