Cleft Lip and PalateChildren around the world are born with some type of cleft lip or palate. The number of cleft repair surgeons has increased over the last decade, providing services to cleft sufferers in India. According to WebMD, it may be more common among certain ethnicities, such as Asian, Latino, or Native American descent, than others, but it is less common among people of African American descent (WebMD). Cultures also see it in different ways. According to Olivia Linderoth of Operation Smiles, in Rwanda, a baby, Challone, was born with a cleft lip. He is only 4 months old and the people in their village are afraid of Challone and think that if they just take a quick glance at him they will have bad luck. Challone's parents, however, want to resolve this problem, to show their village that their son does not bring bad luck to people. Many don't know what causes splits. Challone's parents didn't understand why their baby was born with a cleft lip, but their older son did not. Her mother suspected it was a genetic condition because her cousin had an untreated cleft lip. They want to fix Challone's lip, but they have to travel for hours to fix it and give him a normal life (Linderoth). Clefts affect one in 700 babies each year in the United States. A cleft is a disorder in which tissue does not form, and is the fourth most common birth defect in the United States (WebMD). According to MedlinePlus, this can occur on the upper lip or soft or hard palate. It is possible to have both rather than just one and it can be on one side or both sides (MedlinePlus). According to the CDC, a cleft lip is most common and can also be located in the middle, but this rarely happens (Facts). According to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital,...... middle of paper ......association . American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Internet. March 10, 2014. “Cleft lip and palate.” MedlinePlus. MedlinePlus, October 17, 2013. Web. March 10, 2014. “Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate.” Monroe Carell Jr.. Monroe Carell Jr., July 5, 2012. Web. March 10, 2014. “Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate.” Oral care. WebMD. Internet. March 10, 2014. “Facts About Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate.” » Congenital malformations. CDC, July 15, 2013. Web. March 10, 2014.Linderoth, Olivia. “In Rwanda, Baby Challone finds a new smile.” OperationSmile. OperationSmile, November 15, 2013. Web. March 10, 2014. Nagarajan, Roopa, VH Savitha and B. Subramaniyan. “Communication disorders in people with cleft lip and palate: an overview.” United States National Library of Medicine. United States National Library of Medicine. Internet. March 10, 2014. “Speech Development.” Cleft Palate Foundation. Cleft Palate Foundation, October 25, 2007. Web. March 10 2014.