Sumaiya A., 15

Sumaiya Akter is a kind, determined, and hardworking 15-year-old girl who continues to attend school and care for her two younger sisters and younger brother despite the challenges she has faced since birth. Her father, Korim Mia, is a low-income farmer whose limited earnings are barely enough to provide food, education, and basic necessities for the family, making the cost of specialized cleft palate surgery completely unaffordable. Because of her cleft palate, Sumaiya has struggled with speaking clearly and eating comfortably, and she has often been teased by others, which has affected her confidence and emotional well-being. The family learned about Helpster Charity through volunteer Md. Jamilur Reza, who gave them hope that she could finally receive the treatment she desperately needs. Without timely palatoplasty surgery, Sumaiya may continue to suffer from speech difficulties, nutritional problems, recurrent infections, social isolation, and long-term physical and emotional complications, limiting her ability to reach her full potential and achieve her dream of a brighter future.

According to the treating doctors, Palatoplasty under General Anesthesia (GA) will permanently repair Sumaiya Akter’s Cleft Palate, improving the structure and function of the palate, thereby enhancing her ability to eat, swallow, and speak more clearly. With timely surgery, she is expected to achieve better speech development, improved feeding and swallowing, and a significantly enhanced quality of life. If left untreated, the condition may continue to cause persistent feeding and swallowing difficulties, speech impairment, recurrent ear and upper respiratory infections, poor nutritional status, and long-term functional and psychosocial complications. Therefore, early surgical treatment is essential to protect her health and overall well-being.