Mending Faces restore hope to Aklan’s cleft lip and cleft palate patients

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Lyz Malic-Dalida was born two years ago of cleft palate, a congenital deformity more common in Asian babies. 

It is usually repaired with surgery to improve speech and to reestablish the barrier between the mouth and the nasal cavity.

Lyz Malic-Dalida with her father Allen Dalida
/ PHOTO BY BOY RYAN ZABAL

Lyz parents are Allen Ambrocio Dalida, an armored car security guard from Batan, Aklan and Melanne Malic Dalida, a plain housewife from Kalibo, Aklan.

They recalled that when Lyz was barely one year old, the doctors advised them that she was too young to undergo cleft palate surgery. But Lyz journey didn’t end there.  

They were lucky indeed when Mending Faces volunteers travelled from Denver, Colarodo, USA and from other countries to the Philippines and to the town of Kalibo in Aklan for their second surgical mission last week.

Mending Faces is a group of volunteers dedicated to perform surgical care to impoverished children born with cleft lip and cleft palate in developing countries.

At no cost to her family, Lyz is one of the many kids in Aklan for the Mending Faces humanitarian mission. 

Lyz was confined on February 10 at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, a provincial government hospital in Kalibo, Aklan, in preparation for the surgery. The little princess of Allen and Melanne was called into the operating room on February 11 by a team of surgeons from Mending Faces.

The procedure went perfectly for Lyz. The parents knew she was in the best hands of Mending Faces volunteer of doctors and nurses.  The next day she was released from the hospital.  

Lyz was one of the 63 patients who waited for Mending Faces in Aklan. She is now undergoing post-operative recovery in their home in Sitio Ilaya, Meren Road in Barangay Estancia in Kalibo, Aklan.

Lyz has three other siblings, ranging up to 10 years in age, are infatuated with her.  She is a truly special gift to them.  

“Kami hay nagapasaeamat sa Mending Faces sa anda nga bulig sa amon nga unga, kay Lyz (We thanked Mending Faces for their help to us, especially to my daughter Lyz),” said 37-year old Allen in his local dialect.

Allen is incredibly thankful to the Mending Faces led by Dr. David Charles and his medical volunteer professionals for restoring hope for cleft lip and cleft palate patients in Aklan.

Actually, Allen was overjoyed knowing that his daughter will soon have her new smiles and will learn to talk, eat and speak normally after the life-changing surgery.