It’s been a few months since we’ve visited with Facing the World and we thought it was about time to catch up with them. Beatrice, who’s the Head of Strategy for Stephen Moyer’s favourite charity, told us about an upcoming program on channel 5 in the UK that tells the story of Viet, a toddler with one of the rarest forms of facial clefts. It’s this boy, and others like him that your monies went to this past year when you donated to Facing the Atlantic.
The upcoming documentary highlights the extraordinary work of Britain’s children’s charity, Facing the World. If you’re in the UK you can watch Viet’s story this Thursday; if not, we’ll help you out when the time comes. No worries!
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The Channel 5 documentary The Baby with a New Face (Thursday 28th June 2012, 9pm) follows the story of 18-month-old Viet, who was born with one of the world’s rarest forms of bilateral facial cleft – two 16 millimeter gaps in the bone on each side of his face. These gaps will increase as he grows and make it impossible for him to lead a normal life. His condition makes him blind in both eyes.
Facing the World, a London-based children’s charity, learned of Viet’s case through their surgical training programme in Danang in Vietnam. The complexity of his condition meant that treatment in Vietnam was not a possibility. Viet’s only option for life changing surgery was to travel to London for treatment by Facing the World, the only charity able to treat these most complex and life threatening craniofacial conditions.
You can follow the amazing journey of Viet and his mum from their fishing village in Vietnam to London for transformational surgery at the hands of the top craniofacial surgeons in the world. In the film, surgeon Niall Kirkpatrick and his team perform a highly complex 9 hour operation on Viet’s face, rotating skin that has been contorted by the clefts. His aftercare is complex and requires multiple volunteer medics from across London to maintain Viet’s health and wellbeing.
After three months in London, Viet and his mum travel to be reunited with their family who once feared that Viet would not live. A happy more confident toddler who is speaking and eating like other children returns to Vietnam. With the support of Facing the World, Viet now has a future full of opportunities. He will go on to attend a dedicated school for blind children and his condition will continue to be monitored by Danang General Hospital in partnership with Facing the World.
Facing the World depends upon charitable donations to treat Viet and children with similar life threatening conditions. Without this public support, children such as Viet would go untreated.
Facing the world is an amazing charity. It was a wonderful time during the FTA as well.
I was more than happy to donate in the past and will again in the future.
There is no better thing than to help make a better life for a child.
I can easily understand Stephens association with FTW. He loves children.
I look forward to your assistance SM in allowing those not in the UK to watch this documentary.
Comment by BN — June 26, 2012 @ 12:43 pm
We’ll do our best, BN!
Steve’s fans gave their all to Facing the Atlantic this past year, and I’m sure we’ll be asking for more in the future. Can you blame me? It’s a great cause!
Comment by aemac — June 26, 2012 @ 12:57 pm
Honestly, I can only TRY to imagine the depth of personal and physical sacrifice that Bertie and James made in their rowing journey across the Atlantic. I know that seeing their efforts pay off for a child who has had their face and the quality of their lives improved has to have made it all worthwhile. I applaud them, their friend Steve for his support, encouragement and sponsorship, the SM ladies for their efforts to drum up additional support and the doctors and nurses who work on behalf of these children. Bless you all.
Comment by tabby1249 — June 26, 2012 @ 3:41 pm
Wow what a difference this change will make for this child’s life. Not only a cosmetic change but a social ,physical and psychological difference as well.
tabby, wow honey well said…you said what I think we all feel perfectly.
Comment by Lexie aka sassylassie1018 — June 26, 2012 @ 6:25 pm
I concur with you fine ladies.
Comment by purpleprince — June 26, 2012 @ 7:18 pm
The story of Viet and his journey is quite moving. What a brave family. I’m so glad to have been familiarized with this charity and look forward to doing whatever I can to help out in the future. I also can’t wait to see this documentary.
Comment by SenseofDoubt — June 26, 2012 @ 11:25 pm
I am so glad we are associated with this Charity!
Comment by Lizzie1701 — June 27, 2012 @ 8:05 am
When one feels the urge to make a contribution, the desire to give back or try to make a small difference in the world — there are so many needs and worthy causes. What Bertie and James did, the sacrifice and dedication to their belief touched us all. To see the difference for just one child…it’s incredible, it’s overwhelming.
Comment by shocknawe — June 27, 2012 @ 8:40 am
Well done, Mr. Portal and Mr. Cash. Very well done, indeed.
Comment by Sheryl — June 27, 2012 @ 11:01 am
This is very moving!
Comment by Ariel — June 27, 2012 @ 11:59 am
What a wonderful story. I hope they get a lot more donations.
Comment by Katie — June 27, 2012 @ 9:41 pm