Beyond Surgery: Tebow CURE’s Comprehensive Cleft Care
About one in 1,600 babies are born with a cleft condition worldwide; in the Philippines, that number is about one in 700. With these statistics, cleft has become one of the most common congenital conditions. Cleft lip and palate are congenital disabilities characterized by openings in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth, or both. Babies who have a cleft condition have difficulty breast- and bottle-feeding, breathing, and speaking. Children can also suffer from societal discrimination and become outcasts due to their visible condition. Additionally, a lack of proper knowledge and hearsay about the condition make it more difficult for patients to seek appropriate care.
Thankfully, cleft lip and palate are treatable conditions. If treated early, children with these conditions can live full lives with no long-term effects. Tebow CURE Children’s Hospital of the Philippines (Tebow CURE), in partnership with Smile Train, performs hundreds of varied cleft surgeries yearly, including cleft lip, palate, and facial cleft, making it one of the leading hospitals in cleft reconstructive surgeries. Aside from surgeries, the partnership allows patients to experience comprehensive care—offering the best treatment for patients at no cost to their families.
Cleft patients experience comprehensive care tailored to their personal needs starting at their first clinic visit. They are seen and assessed by highly trained and skilled doctors. Based on their needs, they are offered surgery, nutritional support, and speech therapy, improving their physical appearance and quality of life.
Tebow CURE treats cleft patients 18 years old and younger and a limited number of adults up to 25 years old. Although it has proven difficult, adult patients who received treatment shared satisfaction with their speech after the procedures. Patients also demonstrated good speech outcomes in terms of understandability, acceptability, resonance, and nasal airflow.
Weljhay’s Story
One of the many Tebow CURE patients who received comprehensive care was Weljhey, who was then less than one year old when he first came to the hospital. Like most babies with clefts, Weljhey struggled to create proper suction while breastfeeding. His mom, Aisa, was forced to buy a special feeding bottle specially designed to help babies with cleft conditions eat, and on top of this, she had to buy formulated milk. Weljhey and his family overcame the struggle of feeding, but Aisa and her husband still struggled to afford Weljhey’s formula.
The family relies on Weljhey’s father’s earnings as a manual laborer, while Aisa takes care of the household. Sadly, because of their situation, people would ask Aisa if she wanted to give up Weljhey.
“No matter what happens, I will never give away my child. Though we may struggle because of his condition, I know that there will come a time when we will overcome the difficulties we are facing,” Aisa tells us. Thankfully, the Tebow CURE team traveled to conduct a mobile clinic in Aisa’s hometown. This opportunity provided a path to healing for little Weljhay and his sister, Wella Mae, who had the same condition as him.
When they arrived at the hospital, both siblings were given clinical assessments, nutrition counseling, free laboratory exams, and CURE kits to use during their stay. Weljhey received his first surgery to close the cleft in his lip. His second surgery, to close the cleft in the roof of his mouth, was performed in November 2024. Now, he is fully healed!
But Tebow CURE’s care for Weljhay didn’t end with surgery. Once this young man is old enough, he will undergo speech therapy to help him speak clearly and easily. He will continue to receive guidance and support from Tebow CURE as he grows and develops. Comprehensive care is not just about performing a surgery (or two) but providing holistic and long-term support to the children we serve.
Many kids like Weljhey need more than just surgery. They need healing in all aspects of life to finally experience a full transformation. At Tebow CURE, we are committed to continuously reaching and helping the most vulnerable and providing the best care they deserve at no cost—care that heals not only the body but also broken dreams and spirits.
Learn more about our treatments and how we can help children in the Philippines.
