Suwijuk Jonthong was born on January 23, 2014 with a complete bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate. His family lives in Roi-Et Province.
His mother, Sompak Jonthong , is an ER Nurse and she contacted the Tawanchai Foundation directly once her son had been registered in the birth registration system at Roi-Et Hospital.
“In the beginning,” she explains, “I had no idea what the cleft lip and palate was because most of my experience is specific to the Emergency Room. There were lots of things popping up in my head, such as, ‘is this because of Karma?’ Afterwards, I figured out that one of my relatives on my mom’s side has a cleft lip and cleft palate as well.”
“I had heard there is a free operation offered for cleft lip and palate patients once every four years at Roi-Et hospital. But, I decided I would rather take him to the Tawanchai Cleft Center in order to receive early treatment,” she says. “I feel like my child received quick treatment and referral.”
She credits the collaborative team work, welcoming environment and helpful guidance from the doctors and nurses, especially at the Lactation Clinic, with giving her hope.