Santiago Garcia Vargas is waiting around in the corner of the dance studio in Medellín, Colombia, where he practices four hours a day, every day of the week. The 9-year-old — who was born with a cleft lip and palate, or CLP — has a small scar left on his upper lip. While he used to be shy, dancing has helped improve his self-esteem and helped him forget about the challenges he faces due to his cleft. “I’ve stopped being embarrassed. If it was up to me, I would hide my face. But dancing takes away any negative thoughts,” he says.
In Colombia, more than 3 out of every 10,000 inhabitants are born with a cleft lip or palate, or both. Treating CLP is a lifelong process that goes beyond surgeries to include speech therapy, orthodontics, and nutrition care, as well as psychosocial support. Having a child with the condition can also be mentally challenging for the parents, who are either faced with the diagnosis during pregnancy or at birth. For many, time and counseling are needed to accept and prepare for a child with CLP.
Mental health impacts on the family
Alejandra Lopera Giraldo and Juan Guillermo Correa Restrepo found out that their unborn son had CLP during an ultrasound at five months of pregnancy. They were immediately referred to Clínica Noel, a children’s hospital in Medellín. “It was devastating for us. It was very sad and we cried for weeks, but we were lucky because already the next day we could meet with a psychologist who accompanied us through the process,” said Correa Restrepo.
For some parents, the most important part is the surgery and ensuring that their child speaks well. What’s visible becomes the most important — and it is — but it’s not enough, according to Martha Jaramillo who’s behind the clinic’s psychosocial support program.
“Sure, we need to make sure that when a kid smiles, their little teeth are aligned, but also that they laugh with satisfaction because they love themselves, because they are accepting themselves. And that’s where the role of psychology comes in,” she said.
Join Devex on the ground in Medellín, Colombia as we peek into the journey of children with cleft lip and palate, as well as their families. View the full visual story in English or Spanish.
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