These days, one-year-old Alexander Dalley looks more or less like a normal toddler.
But he has had to undergo extensive reconstructive facial surgery to appear that way.
Alexander was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, birth defects in which the upper lip and the palate in the roof of the mouth do not fuse together properly while the baby is in the womb.
Cleft lips and cleft palates are kinds of birth defects; in the USA it is though to occur one in every 700 to 1,000 births.
Fortunately, the condition is treatable and, at three months of age, surgeons repaired Alexander’s cleft lip, helping him look like a normal kid.
Now surgeons are trying to help Alexander feel more like a normal kid, by repairing the cleft palate in the roof of his mouth.
His mother, Nadia Dalley, says the operation will enable Alex to chew solid food and drink from a normal child’s bottle, without constant help from his parents.
‘It will improve his quality of life drastically. He will be able to eat and drink like a normal child.’
On 10 July, she will travel with Alexander to Florida for the surgery. During their three week stay, Alexander will also be seen by a team of medical professionals including nutritionists, speech pathologists and orthodontists.
To help cover travel costs, Alexander’s family are appareling for donations.
Mrs. Dalley says previous emotional and financial support have helped to dramatically improve their young, beautiful boy’s quality of life.
‘Of the three children I have, Alexander has the most outgoing personality; he has a really sweet personality,’ she said.
‘We would ask you to please open your hearts to Alexander, that he may complete this stage in life and that he may have a more normal life.’
FYI
For further information on helping Alexander and his family, call Nadia Dalley on 328 5795. Deposits and donations can be made to Butterfield Bank account: ‘Donations for Alexander Dalley’; account number 02201-037668.
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