by Gerry Warren

gwarren@thekmgroup.co.uk

Little Jack Keeling-Smith is a picture of happiness as he sits with proud parents Sarah and Mike.

And it’s thanks to the skills of a team of plastic surgeons who have transformed his face in an intricate four-hour operation.

It has given the six-month-old a new lease of life after he was born with a cleft lip and palate (see left).

He underwent surgery to correct his cleft lip at a London hospital and is now back home with Sarah and Mike in Westwood Drive, Canterbury.

His parents were told before he was born that scans revealed he would be disfigured, but say it was still a shock to see him.

Sarah, 30, said: “Everyone wants their baby to be perfect but we had to accept that he wouldn’t be and would need quite dramatic facial surgery.”

Jack is like any other happy, bouncing baby boy, but his ordeal is not over, as he faces another difficult operation in early December to repair his cleft palate.

Sarah, a former PA at Christ Church University, said: “We are not looking forward to it but it has to be done because Jack still has problems eating and drinking.

Sarah and Mike Keeling-Smith with baby Jack after his operation

“He hasn’t been able to suck on a bottle or dummy like other babies so we are trying to get him on to soft solids so that he keeps his weight up.”

“When we knew Jack was going to be born with this problem, we did a little research and found out that although it is quite common, not many parents know much about it.

“It actually affects around two babies born every week in east Kent.
“But we have had fantastic support from the Cleft Lip and Palate Association who have really given us a lot of help, as has Jack’s medical team.”

Mike and Jack’s godfather Nick Bashford have just completed the 163-mile Great Saxon Shore Walk in seven days, raising £2,622 for the charity.

Mike, an arts administrator at the University of Kent, said: “It was a tough challenge but also very rewarding and we are just blown away by the sponsorship support we received.

“Most satisfying was being able to boost awareness of the charity and tell our story through a special Facebook page through which we got a lot of sponsorship.

“Now we are planning another challenge next year – to walk the Pilgrims’ Way from Canterbury to Winchester and then on to Stonehenge.”