Niu’s Family Finds Strength in Community

When Patchaiakotsopa learned that her second daughter, Niu, would be born with a cleft, she was devastated.

She had no idea how to care for a cleft-affected baby. Her great aunt had had a cleft, but an unsuccessful surgery, performed without anesthesia, had left her with a partially open lip and lifelong scarring — both physical and mental. With no one to guide her and no obvious treatment options, the woman lived utterly alone.

So, before her baby was even born, Patchaiakotsopa got to work doing the one thing she knew would help her daughter avoid that fate: She started building a community to aid in the healing journey. She sought out, and found, other young families facing similar situations. The process also drew her closer to her husband, Not, and she invited her mother to come stay with them, providing indispensable support.

Little did she know that from her first breath, her baby, Niu, had a critical advantage her aunt never did.

She was born at Khon Kaen University Hospital (KKUH), which turned out to be a Smile Train partner.

Babies with clefts are at severe risk of malnutrition because the hole in the roof of their mouths makes forming suction impossible without choking. So, right away, KKUH’s specially trained staff showed Patchaiakotsopa multiple methods for feeding Niu so that she would maintain a healthy weight and be ready for the multiple cleft surgeries she needed.

But the most incredible news of all: Niu would receive all of the comprehensive cleft care she would ever need completely free thanks to Smile Train’s donors.

When Niu reached six months old, Patchaiakotsopa took her to KKUH for cleft lip surgery. She cradled her gently in her arms as the nurse applied anesthesia. Niu quickly fell asleep, but Patchaiakotsopa couldn’t sit down, waiting restlessly while her baby was away from her.

When Niu reemerged, Patchaiakotsopa was overjoyed. Not and her mother were, too, — “but I was the most excited,” Patchaiakotsopa added with a grin. The surgery was a complete success.

A few months before her first birthday, Niu once again returned to KKUH, this time for cleft palate surgery, after which her feeding challenges completely disappeared.

Today, Niu is a bubbly five-year-old who loves drawing, singing, and playing. She continues to visit KKUH, where she receives ongoing speech therapy as part of her comprehensive cleft care. Patchaiakotsopa finds peace of mind knowing that, since Niu began treatment at such an early age, she will never suffer bullying or any kind of stigma due to her cleft.

“I’m determined to raise my daughter to help her have a happy life,” she said.

“I feel really grateful, because without Smile Train’s support, my daughter would not be here today. Me and my family would not be able to afford all these medical expenses.”