Robby's incredible story in her own words.

I was 6 years old when I first came to Australia from Pakistan where I was born. However, I was born with a birth defect called 'Cleft Lip Palate', 1 year later my father came to Australia by boat. He was a refugee and was finding it really hard to find a proper job (as he was uneducated) and to also support us back in Pakistan. 

Around one in 800 babies are born with a cleft in Australia.

For a cleft lip palate, the surgeries are better to be done in the first few months of the baby’s life and is recommended within the first 12 months of the baby’s life.

Sadly, when they repaired my cleft lip, it was opened twice. My poor mother had to control me as baby to not cry or laugh otherwise the cleft lip stitches would open and that’s exactly what happened.



Also, as my father was in Australia and my mother was in Pakistan alone, my parents were financially not doing so well. Which is the reason why my surgeries got delayed and unfinished. 

Babies born with born with a cleft lip and palate experience complications that include trouble breathing, difficulty eating and psychological trauma.

Luckily, my father sponsored us to come to Australia and in Australia I was and am till this day very blessed. I am blessed because I have got most of my surgeries done with the best doctors and orthodontist since I was a little girl. Yet, the real heroes who were behind the scenes was Craniofacial Australia. I want to thank you Craniofacial Australia so much for being there for me and supporting me throughout this crazy journey.

Thank you to Robby for sharing

her story.

Please donate today to help others, just like beautiful Robby. Thank you.