A child’s smile is one of the greatest joys of life, but unfortunately, one in 800 children in the United States is born with a facial deformity.
For the 10th year, Baptist Children’s Hospital will donate its facilities and charitable funds to perform corrective facial surgeries and other clinically needed reconstructive procedures for South Florida children. These operations will be provided at no cost for children whose families are unable to pay for these types of services.
A screening to identify children who may be candidates for surgery will take place on Saturday, May 21, at Baptist Children’s Hospital. The surgeries will take place on Saturday, June 11.
Types of facial deformities that can be corrected include: cleft palates, cleft lips, scars, tumors, burns, port wine birthmarks and congenital hand deformities.
Baptist Children’s Hospital doctors from various specialties, including plastic surgery, dentistry and anesthesiology, also will participate.
To be eligible, patients must meet certain surgical and financial criteria. Patients must be 18 years old or younger and residents of Miami-Dade or Monroe counties. They also must present documentation substantiating their parent or guardian’s previous 12 months’ gross income.
A financial screening must take place before the clinical screening on May 21. To make an appointment for the financial screening, call Baptist Children’s Hospital at 786-596-3673.
Baptist Children’s Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization in the region. It also includes Baptist Hospital, South Miami Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute and Baptist Outpatient Services.
