Charitable Foundation
White Memorial: Making a Difference in Alexander's Life
Alexander is a happy little boy who makes new friends
easily. He’s now in pre-school and will start
kindergarten this fall. Just 4-years-old, he is already
a veteran of two surgeries to correct the cleft palate
he was born with.
When Alexander was born, the doctors told his mother that he had a bilateral cleft palate, a genetic malformation in the roof of the mouth. She was surprised and scared, but the hospital quickly assured her that it could be corrected. “At that time, I was naïve and didn’t know anything about a cleft palate – I’d never even heard of it,” says Neomia Hancock, Alexander’s mother. “The doctors at the hospital referred me to White Memorial Medical Center (WMMC), where they have a special Cleft Palate Program for children like Alexander.
“I took him there the first week of his life and we’ve been going there ever since. Everyone was extremely friendly and from the very beginning I felt like they treated him more like a family member than a patient. They have a group of specialists – the surgeon, dentist, therapist, nurses and others who see him regularly. They learned our names quickly and have helped us so much.”
Alexander had surgery on his lip at 10 weeks. Just
a week before his first birthday, he had palate surgery.
Children with cleft palates are often prone to ear
infections, but since the palate surgery, he has not
had any ear problems.
WMMC’s Cleft Palate Program provides comprehensive care for children like Alexander. It is the only such program in east Los Angeles county. “Since my son was born, I’ve met other parents who have children with a cleft palate and their experience is unlike mine. I think White Memorial treats people differently and makes them feel like family.”
She’s been bringing Alexander to WMMC for speech therapy once a week since he first began to talk, so the therapist can address any speech issues that may arise. He’s doing well and speaks clearly. “They’re so great – they’ve helped him in every way – with his self-esteem as well as his language. He’s very social and likes to talk to everyone,” she says. Today, Alexander is a loving, confident child who knows he has a “special mark” others sometimes ask about, but he is self-assured and feels good about himself.
“I am just so grateful to the WMMC Cleft Palate Program for all they do. They make it possible for Alexander to receive the care he needs. I’m a full-time student and also work part-time, so it can be difficult at times. At the beginning, before I had a car, they even provided transportation so I could bring my son in. They’re so great at working to accommodate my schedule, which changes all the time. They’ll sometimes even switch us with another family if necessary.
“We live in Whittier, but it’s worth the hour drive each way to have him come to the Cleft Palate Program at White Memorial,” she emphasized.
WMMC’s Cleft Palate Program serves approximately 350 cleft lip and palate children each year. Without treatment, affected children can suffer life-long handicaps such as facial deformities, chronic dental and hearing problems and even malnutrition. They also suffer from the psychological and social consequences of the disfiguring condition.
Since WMMC is a not-for-profit hospital, all donations made to the hospital are gladly accepted and deeply appreciated. For more information about the Cleft Palate Program or to make a donation, please call (323) 260-5739.
The White Memorial Medical Center Charitable Foundation is licensed by the City of Los Angeles-Police Commission Charitable Services Section to make appeals for charitable donations. If you would like to see a copy of our permit, please contact us.
