Through seeing my nephew Francis, from an infant through to the elementary age boy he is now, undergo various surgeries and medical procedures to correct his cleft palate, has made me appreciate and understand the work that surgeons and doctors involved in this field do. He was able to get the help he needed because of the medical care here. But charities like CLEFT make medical care for children with cleft palates more accessible so they can get the help they need in the UK and overseas. And not just the surgical care, it is the support for the families and the research into what causes cleft palate, improving the treatment and care of patients undergoing repairs and the aftercare, like speech therapy and helping patients achieve a normal life. Vanessa Seitz