An abandoned baby boy with a cleft palate sleeps in an officer's arms at a local police station in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning Province. The baby was abandoned under a nearby crossroad until passers-by dialed 110 (emergency services). The police have sent him to a local children's welfare institute for special care, while they investigate the case. [newsphoto]

He said over 300 children from over 10 cities are in the Shenyang Children Hospital in readiness for an operation, although they cannot all be treated because of time limits and their health status.

"Such an operation can really help them as it can repair their faces and allow them to live as normal kids," said Wong.

Operations are arranged according to the condition of each child, according to Don D. Walker, ward co-ordinator of the team.

Doctors from ASF were busy performing operations every day from morning until night. They expect to work for 10 days.

Three-year-old Lu Jing could not smile properly because the simple action was too painful for him.

"I felt sorry for my son every time I saw other kids laughing happily. He is so lovely but I could not afford the operation expenses," said Sun Hongwei, a farm worker from Heilongjiang Province.

"Thank you, thank you ASF. You have brought such happiness to my boy," said the grateful mother.

Each operation costs around 8,000 yuan (US$1000) in Shenyang, according to Zhang Xinli, the chief of the ENT (ear-nose-throat) department at Shenyang Children Hospital.

That is far too expensive for local low-income families who are mainly farmers and laid-off workers. For example, Sun said she earned about 2,000 yuan (US$250) a year from corn and other crops.

ASF will be coming back to China.

"They will come to Shenyang every April and September," said Liu from the Red Cross, to comfort disappointed parents.

This is the third time ASF has come to Shenyang. After the first time in May last year, it also went to South China's Fujian Province and East China's Jiangxi Province.

(China Daily)

Vocabulary:

cleft palate: 唇裂，俗稱“兔唇”，參看新聞熱詞都是“唇裂”惹的禍

Alliance for Smiles: 美國慈善機構“微笑聯盟”

（英語點津陳蓓編輯）

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