Wachirawit Darakantrong was born on September 11, 2013, with a complete bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate, and lives in Roi-Et Province, Thailand.
The nurse at Roi-Et hospital registered him online and referred him to the Tawanchai Cleft Center in order to receive further treatment.
Wachirawit’s mother, Ms. Ornwipha Thunglat, says that she was initially “frightened and full of sadness” because her ultrasound had not detected the cleft lip and palate.
In addition to her son, she learned that her husband’s brother has a cleft lip and cleft palate.
“Shortly after I gave birth, my husband and I separated. My husband couldn’t accept that his son has a cleft lip and cleft palate. He left and didn’t take any responsibility for his child. Additionally, my mother-in-law is so ashamed that she won’t let her grandson go outside of the house. She is afraid that the neighbors will find out that her grandson has a cleft lip and cleft palate,” she explains. “For this first operation, both my husband and mother-in-law drove me to the hospital, but I am afraid that I will have to take the bus by myself in the future.”
Roi-Et Hospital coordinated and referred her case to the Tawanchai Cleft Center in order to receive medical treatment.
“I really appreciate Tawanchai Center for the very warm welcome,” she says. “All I can say is Tawanchai Center gave me hope and encouraged me to take care of my child. Even though it is going to be hard and there will be even more visits to the hospital, if my child will get better, it is worth it.”