Since its inception, the Australian Craniofacial Unit has dealt with many types of craniofacial deformities and injuries including cleft palettes and lips, large tumours and cancerous growths, burns and facial injuries due to road accidents.

Mariam is a bright little 5yr old with a rare condition called "Treacher Collins Syndrome." When Mariam was born her face was smaller than usual, her under-developed cheek bones were crumpled and her eyes were sloping downwards. Mariam can not breathe by herself and has a tracheostomy tube. She has already endured many painful operations but her future looks bright. She will eventually be able to breathe on her own and her appearance will improve although she will continue to need treatment and care into adulthood.

Your donations can help many more children like Mariam so they may also have a bright future full of self-confidence and dignity.

How will the funds be used?

Whilst the operations are generally covered by Medicare, many items of medical equipment needed for treatment of the patients with craniofacial deformities are not. For example - technology developed by scientists of the Australian Craniofacial Unit, enable an exact full-sized 3D replica of a patient's skull to be produced from a scan.

These nylon models are beneficial in pre-operative planning – The craniofacial surgeon and other team members can study the precise deformity, size and shape of the patient's skull before the operation without having the patient present. Prostheses can be manufactured before the actual surgery and fitted on the nylon model to ensure a proper fit. The duration of the surgery is often reduced, resulting in savings for the health care system.

Funds are also used for:

• research into the causes and prevention of facial deformities and injuries of persons within Australia and overseas.
• to support the development of new techniques and treatment of facial deformities and injuries of persons within Australia and overseas.
• to grant financial assistance to the guardians and families of persons with facial deformities and injuries, the Institute of Craniofacial Studies Inc and other organisations that have similar purposes to facilitate the above objectives.

• Craniofacial surgical patients – medical equipment to assist in planning operations and treatments.
• Research into the causes and prevention of facial deformities and injuries
• Development of techniques and treatment to correct facial deformities and injuries
• Grants for financial assistance to the guardians and families of persons with facial deformities and injuries, the Institute of Craniofacial Studies, and other organisations that have similar purposes to facilitate the above objectives.

Contact details for this appeal:
Mr Bob Snewin
Fund Devt Manager
Telephone: 08 8267 4128
Email: bsnewin@icfs.com.au
Website: www.craniofacial.com.au/home/index.mhtml

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