
Foundation helps children with craniofacial conditions
Since its founding in 1989, the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation has supported more than 90,000 families affected by craniofacial conditions, providing long -term care and education. Today, we take you to meet Qi Qi, a young girl born with microtia, a congenital condition where the ears are underdeveloped. Doctors initially thought she would live for only seven days. But thanks to the support of the foundation and her mother, Qi Qi recently celebrated her fourth birthday. FTV reporter Stephany Yang has the story.
Surrounded by her family, Qi Qi cuts her birthday cake. Born with a cleft palate, microtia, and multiple congenital conditions, Qi Qi weighed just 1,380 grams at birth. Doctors predicted she would survive only seven days. She faced daunting challenges: a missing kidney, an underdeveloped spine and chest, and torticollis. Raised by her mother as a single parent, Qi Qi’s journey was made possible with the support of the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation. Today, she’s a healthy and lively 4-year-old.
Qi Qi’s mom
The doctors originally said she wouldn’t live long. Later, the hospital introduced me to the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation, which has supported me all the way and accompanied Qi Qi. What touches me the most is seeing her grow every day, becoming livelier and livelier. Just seeing her smile makes everything worth it. She’s currently undergoing speech, cognitive, and physical therapy. She’s hard of hearing, and she’s still learning to communicate with us. But now, she can respond to us a bit by using sign language."
Golden Bell Award-winning actor Wen Sheng-hao serves as the foundation’s ambassador. He called on the public to support, donate and remove the stigma surrounding children with craniofacial conditions.
Wen Sheng-hao
Foundation ambassador
It’s not just about providing medical care. What is important is providing emotional support. This May, I attended a family gathering event, and I realized that aside from the craniofacial patients themselves, the ones who suffer the most are the family members. Families often experience a lot of inner conflict, anxiety, and sometimes even thoughts of giving up. If, at those moments, we can encourage each other, I believe that kind of support carries tremendous power.
The Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation was founded by Dr. Samuel Noordhoff in 1989, in hopes of helping congenital craniofacial patients receive holistic care and medical treatment as well as educate the public about the condition. In addition to medical support, the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation offers training for family members and respite caregivers. It also organizes summer camps, provides scholarships, and awards grants.
Ko Wen-ching
Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation
"The Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation has been established for over 30 years. Its main service recipients are patients with congenital craniofacial deformities. In Taiwan, the most common congenital craniofacial condition is cleft lip and palateabout 1 in every 700 births. There are also cases of isolated cleft palate. QiQi has microtia, and we have quite a few patients with this condition as well. Because these conditions occur at birth, the support needed is quite extensive and long-term, often continuing from childhood into adulthood. Step by step, patients undergo craniofacial reconstructive surgeries and even orthodontic treatments."
Every year in Taiwan, over 300 children are born with congenital craniofacial anomaliesconditions like cleft lips and palates, and microtia. Now in its 36th year, the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation remains committed to supporting these children and their families, helping them grow up healthy.
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2025-09-04