Dynamite comes in small packages
This little trooper could teach us a thing or two about resilience.
The prospect of injections and various metal instruments inserted into our mouths is enough to send most adults procrastinating our next routine visit to the dentist. For 6.5 month-old Chan Ya Qi, however, the inside of an operating theatre is, and will be an unavoidable sight — at least for the next two decades.
As shared by her Aunty Ally, an in-law of Ya Qi’s family, “She was born with a bilateral cleft lip, and will require multiple surgeries to correct it until she’s 18. She doesn’t have a palate, which means the simple action of sucking from a milk bottle isn’t possible.”
Clefts are gaps that can occur in the lip and/or palate tissue, which can occur on one side of the lip (unilateral) or on both sides of the lip (bilateral) during fetal development. These could result in a host of complications ranging from feeding difficulties to hearing problems and speech delays. It’s estimated that Ya Qi’s parents require at least RM$100,000 to cover all her medical and daily needs until she’s 18.
Looking at photos of smiley, bubbly Ya Qi, it’s hard to imagine what she’s already had to go through. This little bundle of strength underwent the first of many surgeries on 9 March for primary closure of her cleft lip and endured a painful recovery journey that was heart-wrenching for loved ones to witness.
“She doesn’t know why she’s in pain and since the stitches are in her mouth and nose region, crying hurts her more,” said Ally. “She also has to wear arm splints so she cannot bend her arms to touch her mouth. It’s painful for her parents emotionally too as it takes longer for Ya Qi to be soothed and calmed down.”
Thankfully, Ya Qi has healed wonderfully since her first surgery and is back to her playful self. She loves showing off her cheeky smile, lifting everyone’s spirits like a ray of sunshine. Besides their daughter’s swift recovery and resilience, Ya Qi’s parents also take comfort in their strong support network of family and neighbours. Ally recalls the great hospitality that surrounded her family at the wedding of Ya Qi’s parents in Kuala Lumpur, about 7 years ago. It is with great fondness and gratitude that she describes the helpfulness and generosity she received from everyone.
But despite this silver lining, the rollercoaster of emotions continues as medical and care expenses take their toll on the family’s already strained finances. With her next surgery scheduled for when she’s between 9 to 12 months old, Ya Qi also requires additional procedures beyond lip repair, for orthodontics, speech and even hearing issues.
Caring for Ya Qi is definitely challenging, especially for first-time parents. They have to make the most basic daily tasks for their little one extra-manageable — such as feeding her with a squeeze bottle for babies with cleft palates; pacing and moderating the milk flow carefully to ensure that she doesn’t choke.
After the operation, Ya Qi now can suck and has progressed to using a normal milk bottle now, but if she drinks too quickly, the milk will still flow out of her nose. The special bottle will be required after her next subsequent surgeries. Ya Qi’s mother tried to feed her cereal and puree when she passed the 6-month mark but that attempt was unsuccessful; food got lodged inside her nasal cavity and in the palate space. It was very difficult to clean out her nose after feeding.
Such additional care required care for Ya Qi is the reason why she needs a nanny, who helps to care for Ya Qi while her mother works during the day costs RM$1,000 per month. This higher expense is due to the fact that Ya Qi is a special needs child.
Wanting to repay the family’s kindness and help Ya Qi’s long-suffering parents who had been trying for four years before successfully conceiving their only child, Ally reached out to GIVE.asia. Having donated to other GIVE.asia-supported causes before, she hopes to leverage this reliable platform to raise SGD$25,000 (approximately RM$79,550) to lift the family’s financial burden. View Baby Ya Qi’s GIVE.asia page here — https://give.asia/movement/help_fund_ya_qis_cleft_palate_surgeries
“Her mum just told me today that 2 insurance companies rejected Ya Qi’s insurance application even with the exclusion of her cleft lip and palate conditions, so she’s a little dismayed at the outcome. One of the insurers advised her to reapply after her palate surgery, so let’s see. The donations are now even more essential after this outcome.”
Baby Ya Qi is, without a doubt, a source of inspiration as she continues to smile her way through the long road ahead to recovery. At 6.5 months, she’s now at the adorable exploration phase — learning to crawl and putting everything into her mouth, including her toes. While the family remains optimistic about their situation, they would greatly appreciate your financial support. Please share this link or make a donation if her story has touched you.
