March 5-15, 2026, I will join a n Operation International cleft repair team as a pediatric anesthesiologist. Houaphanh is a medically underserved and geographically isolated province in Laos where access to specialized surgical care is extremely limited. Our team aims to provide life-changing care to young patients by repairing cleft lips and palates. These individuals would not otherwise receive this care in this remote area.
Children with cleft lips and palates have lifelong problems with feeding, speech, social acceptance. Their long-term economic status is also adversely affected. Our team plans to provide cleft lip and palate repairs for 60 patients in Houaphanh and surrounding areas. Because specialty surgical care is limited in this area, we may also provide surgeries for young adults who were unable to receive care earlier in life.
Cleft lip and palate repair for 60 patients will have life-changing impacts on these 60 individuals, improving their speech, eating, and social integration. We will also interact with the local physicians and nurses to share practical skills so care can continue after we leave
During our mission to Huapan, Laos we completed cleft surgeries on 55 patients. Two teenage young ladies stand out in my memories. One of them was 16 years old with a complete unrepaired bilateral cleft lip and palate. She was abandoned by her parents and grew up as an unpaid maid and cook for her uncles. She dropped out of school because of her appearance. She had an excellent repair and was quite beautiful. We all hoped thatch would have the help and courage to get educated and make a life of her own eventually.
The second young lady had a left cleft lip which was repaired with an excellent result. She is so pretty. One of the mission staff gave her the sweatshirt that says "Confidence changes lives". We certainly hope that translates for her to education and a better life with many choices.
