Chin Ying

Chin Ying was born to a poor Malaysian family with her three middle fingers and toes fused at birth. Around age three doctors realized her problems extended far deeper, diagnosing her with the extremely rare genetic deformity Apert syndrome. The plates forming her skull fused too early, resulting in a tower-shaped head, widely separated eyes as well as nasal and jaw deviations plus a cleft palate.

 

Without help the deformity would squeeze her brain as she grows, sending her blind and causing mental problems. Mr David saw Chin in Penang and decided the little girl should be operated on in Adelaide.

 

The Perth Office of Computer Associates, an Australian Cranio Maxillo Facial Foundationsponsor, raised $15,000 for her surgery at the Women's and Children's Hospital. Under Mr David's multi-disciplinary team approach, a full range of experts from orthodontists and neurosurgeons to speech pathologists and ophthalmologists assessed her, with 27 appointments in 7 days before surgery.

 

"This procedure is the first part of a process over the next 10 to 12 years," Mr David said. "The first procedure is on her head and upper eye socket, then we will move on to the face later."

Dr Drew Schnitt, Fellow at the Australian Craniofacial Unit, said the operation yet to be performed on Chin Ying involves fitting a device called a bone distractor to gradually change the shape of Chin Ying's face. Dr Schnitt explained that like Chin Ying, several Australian children each year are born with syndromes resulting in a "flat" or receding midface. These children may experience severe breathing difficulties and have an abnormal facial appearance.

The operation to insert the distractor under the skin and attach it to the patient's facial bones is a lengthy procedure. The distractor is fitted to the midface of the child for a period of one to three months and gradually advances the child's face. This may cause periods of discomfort for the child and is mostly performed for therapeutic purposes, not simply aesthetic considerations.

 

 

Distractors, which may cost up to $15,000, are not funded by Medicare.

The Australian Cranio Maxillo Facial Foundation seeks support from the community to raise funds for equipment like distractors that are not covered by Medicare.

 

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