Families seeking cleft lip repair in China often travel across continents, weighed down by anxiety and high hopes for their child’s future. For one overseas family, their long‑distance medical journey to the International Medical Department of Beijing Jingdu Children’s Hospital culminated in successful surgery and heartfelt appreciation, documented in their original bilingual patient testimonial.
The infant patient was diagnosed with unilateral grade‑III complete cleft lip, a severe congenital maxillofacial deformity requiring sophisticated multi‑stage planning and multi‑disciplinary pediatric care. Given the high clinical complexity of the condition, the parents devoted considerable time researching treatment options worldwide.
Cleft lip, or “hare‑lip”, is one of the most prevalent congenital craniofacial birth defects. Clinically it is classified into three grades according to fissure location and severity: ‑ Grade‑I: Cleft limited only to the vermilion lip ‑ Grade‑II: Cleft extends past the lip but does not reach the nasal base ‑ Grade‑III: Full‑thickness cleft running from lip edge all the way to nasal base (complete cleft lip)
Grade‑I and Grade‑II belong to incomplete cleft lip, while Grade‑III represents complete cleft lip. Surgical cheiloplasty is the primary treatment. Repair for unilateral grade‑III cleft lip is not a single‑session operation; it demands long‑term planning and cross‑specialty collaboration.
Prior to travelling, the family consulted specialists in the United States including Dr. Rachel Rotolo. After detailed comparison of proposals, they concluded that the cleft‑lip protocol available in China was more detailed and comprehensive. This became one of their core reasons for undertaking the long overseas trip.
Bad past medical experiences in their home country had left the parents cautious and slow to trust healthcare providers. When they first arrived in China, cultural differences and language barriers amplified their worries. During hospitalization, their fear and uncertainty occasionally caused misunderstandings, for which the family offered sincere apologies in their letter.
During admission, Dr. Jin Xiaoju and Dr. Xie Wenjun were assigned as the attending surgeons for their daughter, as specially requested by the family. Far exceeding expectations, the two doctors delivered surgery with outstanding skill, gentle bedside manner and great patience, always making clinical decisions based on the child’s best interests.
The family also gave special recognition to Mr. Tony from international patient support. Navigating life and medical care in an unfamiliar country with a sick baby took a heavy emotional toll. There were moments when the parents doubted whether they had made the right decision. Continuous encouragement and practical support from Mr. Tony helped restore their confidence throughout the whole treatment pathway from admission to post‑surgical follow‑up for international patients.
“To Dr. Jin Xiaoju, Dr. Xie Wenjun, Mr. Tony, all doctors, nurses, support staff and management team:
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to every one of you… They treated our baby with such great skill, care, patience, and kindness. Honestly, we could not have imagined such a wonderful experience.
Being in a completely unfamiliar country with our baby was emotionally very difficult. At times we questioned whether we had made the right decision. Without Mr. Tony’s encouragement, we might have lost hope. Today we can say that we made the right decision.
From the doctors and nurses to the supporting staff and the management team, everyone showed us extraordinary patience, kindness, and compassion. Thank you for giving our daughter such wonderful care and for giving our family hope and confidence.”
The child has achieved full recovery after surgery. Reflecting on their cross‑border journey, the family emphasized that every member of hospital staff demonstrated remarkable compassion. They apologized for any distress their parental anxiety may have caused and said they would forever remember the team’s professionalism.
Beijing Jingdu Children’s Hospital’s International Medical Department provides dedicated foreign patient support, designed for overseas families receiving treatment in China. Centered on equality, inclusiveness and attentiveness, the department combines high‑level clinical capability with human‑centered service. Hundreds of children suffering from complex, refractory and severe diseases from multiple nations have received treatment here, earning widespread international praise.
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