Katia dreams of a new face and a beautiful smile

8-year-old Katya was born with rare Tricher-Collins syndrome. This is a genetic disease caused by a mutation in a gene. Such as Katia are called “a child without a face”. The disease is manifested in multiple development deformities of the maxillofacial area. Katya endured a lot of surgeries and the next one is on the line, but the family has no more money. The girl dreams of a new face and a beautiful smile. But the problem is not only in appearance. To date, deformed facial bones complicate Katia's breathing, hearing, and vision. Plastic surgery will improve the appearance of Katya, and most importantly help to breathe, hear and see.

8-year-old Katya was born with rare Tricher-Collins syndrome. This is a genetic disease caused by a mutation in a gene. Such as Katia are called “a child without a face”. The disease is manifested in multiple development deformities of the maxillofacial area. Katya endured a lot of surgeries and the next one is on the line, but the family has no more money. The girl dreams of a new face and a beautiful smile. But the problem is not only in appearance. To date, deformed facial bones complicate Katia's breathing, hearing, and vision. Plastic surgery will improve the appearance of Katya, and most importantly help to breathe, hear and see.

Katia was born with an unusual appearance. That's how the genes are lined up. Mother of Katya was asked to send the girl to the Foster House, but this absurd proposal only angered Katia’s mother. Daughter is the most valuable thing for a woman and Katia's mother has been fighting for the life of a child for 8 years already.

The first subject to an operation that Katya held in 2012, removed the adenoid, which interfered with breathing. Later in 2014 was installed a hearing implant and Katya began to hear. In 2019, a problem appeared with an eye and Katya lost her sight. The eye was treated in Odessa in the clinic of Filatov but to no avail. There was a try to help in Kyiv in "Ohmatdit" clinic, but nothing helped and it only got worse. Then, after talking with the parents of children with the same diagnosis, Katya's mom found out that a lot of being treated in maxillofacial surgery and dentistry clinic in Moscow and the results were amazing. I was also nice to know that the clinic helps children with such a diagnosis in a complex way (orthodontist, ophthalmologist and maxillofacial specialists work at the same time), it means that there is no need to travel to different cities and hospitals, the girl can have everything in one clinic.

Without losing time, Mom and Katya went to the Moscow clinic. At that time the eyes were already quite a disaster (inflamed, festering, it was urgently necessary to break through the tear channel). The clinic immediately began to examine Katia, the orthodontist installed a special construction on her teeth and on June 19, Katia held an operation on her right eye. And now the girl needs to perform another operation on the eyes - correction of the corners of the eyes and excision of the scars.

Katia has only a mother, a grandmother and a grandfather, who, having gathered all their strength, are fighting for the health of the girl. And also for her socialization. Unusual appearance very much attracts the attention of others and they do not always behave tactfully, that makes Katia suffer a lot. The reaction of the people is well shown in the movie "Wonder" with Julia Roberts. It shows a story about a boy with a similar diagnosis. Unfortunately, Katia's father helps only with alimony.

Katia Pelin's family appeals to everyone for the help! Help Katya keep her health and improve her appearance!

Name: Pelin Kateryna, 11.11.2010

City: Novoselivka village, Odessa region

Diagnosis: Trichers Collins syndrome, underdevelopment of the lower jaw on both sides, joint deformity of the upper jaw, microtia on both sides, atresia of the auditory passages, hypoplasia of the zygomatic bones, recurrence of dacryocystitis OD