Photo by Flash Rosenberg
New York, NY Construction manager and general contractor Wesbuilt Construction Managers has raised over $150,000 for the Little Baby Face Foundation (LBFF). The Fifth Annual Wesbuilt LBFF Gala fundraiser brought together civic-minded real estate, construction, and architecture professionals as well as plastic surgeons, who volunteer their services free of charge. Wesbuilt’s efforts have so far raised more than $500,000 for the Foundation’s activities.
“Being a parent, you realize having a healthy child is the ultimate gift. Because of this, I am immensely proud of the critical work the Little Baby Face Foundation and its affiliated physicians, volunteers, and supporters selflessly perform every day for youngsters with facial deformities. The organization’s awe-inspiring mission to transform faces offers brighter futures for hundreds of children, with more than 500 surgeries performed to date,” said Donal McIntyre, vice president of the LBFF and president of Wesbuilt.
Founded in 2002, The Little Baby Face Foundation transforms the lives of children born with facial deformities through reconstructive surgery. World-class surgeons and medical providers at New York City’s finest healthcare facilities volunteer their time and expertise to provide the best corrective surgery and medical care to children in need around the globe.
LBFF arranges travel to and from New York City for children from infancy to 21 years of age, to undergo needed corrective surgical procedures at no expense to their families.
Photo by Flash Rosenberg
“On behalf of the Little Baby Face Foundation’s board, I want to thank Wesbuilt for their continued support and generosity. Donal McIntyre and the Wesbuilt employees are true partners and incredible human beings, whose generosity allows LBFF to fulfill its mission of transforming the lives and faces of children. I thank them from the bottom of my heart,” said Thomas Romo, III, MD, FACS, LBFF’s Founder and Medical Advisory Board Director, and Director of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Northwell Health’s Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, both in New York City. Dr. Romo also operates a private practice in Manhattan, Romo Plastic Surgery.
“Construction and real estate industry professionals are among the most generous supporters of charitable causes concerning the health of children,” said Mark Galway, Wesbuilt Principal. “Tonight’s event has brought together nearly 200 executives from leading national and regional real estate, construction, and architecture firms to support LBFF’s mission. The funds raised today will allow the Foundation to perform medical procedures for some of the more than 70 little patients waiting for reconstructive surgeries.”
To date, LBFF has completed more than 500 surgeries and procedures on children from 20 nations. 80% of the children served are from the U.S. Nearly 100 world-renowned doctors, surgeons, and nurses have volunteered their expertise to the organization, with partner hospitals donating over 300 operating rooms and services. Since 2002, LBFF has raised over $5 million in donations and services.
While all surgeries are provided pro-bono by LBFF’s Medical Advisory Board, related medical expenses for each child can cost from $2,500 to $25,000. Once accepted for treatment, each child receives the full medical care and support they require, including the a full medical evaluation and diagnostic testing, services, accommodations and transportation to and from New York City for the child and an adult guardian, and a surgery required to correct the deformity. The average stay is one week per surgery. On average, each child requires two surgeries that last over six hours.
One of the recent examples of little patients assisted by LBFF is five-year old Gracie from Gresham, Oregon. She was born with a segmental hemangioma as well as an airway hemangioma that obstructed 30% of her airway, making it difficult to breathe. Two weeks after her birth, she lost her lower lip and both ears due to a severe ulceration. The ulceration was so severe that her mother watched helplessly as her daughter’s face became progressively disfigured. Gracie now has a very large and stiff scar on her face due to the ulceration, which makes it difficult for her to open her mouth. The scarring makes it difficult to fit even a teaspoon or a toothbrush in her mouth, requiring a feeding tube to be placed at one month of age.
Gracie is currently undergoing medical treatment provided by LBFF and the organization flies her and her mom from the West Coast to New York City when needed. Doctors had advised that Gracie would be very difficult to intubate, if she needed it during medical procedures, and so the first course of action in her treatment was the surgery to loosen the tethering and allow her mouth to open more. Following this recently done procedure, she now wears a chin bolster. At the same time, Gracie is receiving ongoing laser treatments to reduce and remove the hemangioma on her face.
Gracie will have to grow for a few years before LBFF’s surgeons can rebuild her ears. She will be receiving all necessary treatments from LBFF until she is 21.
To learn more details about Gracie’s case and view her photos, please visit www.littlebabyface.org/gracies-journey-with-hemangioma-and-anotia/.
Additional stories of LBFF’s young patients and other information are available at www.littlebabyface.org/knowledge-base/.
For donations, please access www.littlebabyface.org/donate/.
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