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Monday 09:00 - 18:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 18:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 18:00 Thursday 09:00 - 18:00 Friday 09:00 - 18:00

Love Makes Whole, Room 708, 7F. , No. 54, Sec. 4, Minsheng East Road, Taipei (2026)

25/08/2026

In November 2025, NCF and NCF Philippines (NCFP) brought together a multidisciplinary team of plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, pediatricians, and speech therapists to deliver comprehensive cleft care in Davao, Philippines.

Beyond performing routine cleft lip and palate repairs, alveolar bone grafts, and secondary lip and nose revisions, the mission strengthened the quality of care through close collaboration among different specialties. Patients with speech disorders received nasopharyngoscopic examinations during the multidisciplinary clinic, allowing the team to accurately diagnose velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and provide timely surgical treatment. At the same time, dental specialists assessed whether severely decayed teeth should be removed during surgery, helping reduce postoperative pain, minimize the risk of infection, and improve long-term treatment outcomes.

This integrated approach reflects NCF's commitment to treating not only the cleft itself, but the whole person.

During this cleft mission to Davao, we reunited with Nile, a child born with a severe facial cleft whom they had first met during the 2024 mission.
Nile was born in 2019. His mother recalled that no local surgeon was willing to take on such a complex case. The only doctors who accepted him was our Filipino surgeon, Dr. Dax Pascasio. Since then, Nile has undergone five reconstructive surgeries, each bringing him one step closer to a healthier future.

After his surgery in 2024, his parents hoped to postpone the next stage of treatment because they did not want their son to endure another operation so soon. However, before the 2025 mission, Dr. Dax reached out to the family. Knowing that Nile was about to start school, he was concerned that Nile’s facial difference might expose him to bullying and encouraged the family to continue treatment without delay.

That phone call changed their decision. Nile's mother brought him back to the mission, not only because she trusted our team's medical advice, but because she felt that the team genuinely understood her family's concerns. She realized that the doctors were caring not only for Nile's face, but also for his confidence, his future, and his opportunity to begin school without fear.

For NCF, every surgery is more than a medical procedure. It is an opportunity to restore confidence, protect a child's future, and remind families that they are not facing this journey alone.

15/08/2026

Meet Tom!

Tom is 3 years old, with a cleft lip and palate. When he first met our team, he was only 23 days old—a tiny baby just beginning his journey.

Tom is the only child in his family. His mother is a homemaker, and his father works hard to support the family. Like all parents, they dreamed of seeing their little boy grow up healthy and smile with confidence.

A Life-Changing Smile

At just 5 months old, Tom took the first big step on his journey by undergoing cleft lip repair surgery. Around 9 months of age, he completed another important milestone with cleft palate surgery. Today, Tom's bright smile reflects an incredible transformation—one that has improved not only his appearance, but also his health, development, and future.

For his parents, seeing Tom smile for the first time was a moment they will never forget.

05/08/2026

An Internship Notebook 9,000 km From Home: German Student Felix Joins NCF!

"On my first day, I couldn't even find the entrance or the elevator. I stood outside the door, nervous, for a long time," says Felix, a senior university student from southern Germany majoring in Social Work and Early Childhood Education, with a laugh.

Through the Promos Scholarship program, Felix traveled halfway around the world to intern at NCF. Though his internship lasted only two months, for him it was a true challenge that pushed him far outside his comfort zone.

Felix grew up in Germany alongside five foster children, an experience that shaped his deep belief in the power of family support and social inclusion. When he first applied for the internship, he was drawn to NCF's commitment to empowering craniofacial families. "I really love how the Foundation works side by side with families. It aligns perfectly with what I've studied in international social work back in Germany."

During his internship, Felix took part in outpatient clinic visits, pastel drawing group childcare sessions, youth rock climbing activities, and even performed in a storytelling play at a local school. Among all these experiences, shadowing the clinic visits left the deepest impression on him.

"I remember one child who had to wear a nasal stent. He was crying so hard when he came into the exam room. But watching the doctor, nurse, and social worker work together so skillfully, he ended up walking out with a smile!" That moment moved Felix deeply.

During a family day trip, a seven-year-old girl confidently showed him her doll and said with a big smile, "Look, my doll has a cleft lip and palate too, just like me!" That confidence helped Felix truly see the depth and value of the Foundation's work.

He also noticed how unique NCF's continuum of care model is. There seems to be no such thing as a "closed case" here. As long as a child still needs support, the Foundation's care continues, from birth all the way into adulthood. "The Foundation cares for a person's entire life journey. That's truly remarkable," he said in amazement.

As his internship came to an end, Felix wanted to thank all the social workers who accompanied him along the way:

"Thank you to every one of you. From that very first day when I couldn't even find my way, you welcomed me with such warmth. I'll carry this memory home to Germany and treasure it always."

25/07/2026

For more than 15 years, NCF has worked closely with the National Center for Maternal and Child Health in Mongolia to improve cleft care. In 2025, we reached another milestone by joining the local team on our first cleft mission to Bayan-Ölgii.

Together with Dr. Ayanga and his team, NCF regularly conducts cleft missions, bringing comprehensive cleft care closer to families who have limited access to medical services.

Located in western Mongolia, Bayan-Ölgii is more than 24 hours away from Ulaanbaatar by car. For many families, the long journey to the capital is one of the greatest barriers to receiving treatment. Imagine traveling for more than a day with a child just to attend a medical appointment.

By bringing the medical team to the community, patients can receive timely treatment closer to home, reducing both the financial burden and the challenges of long-distance travel.

In 2026, NCF will return to Mongolia for another cleft mission. This year, we look forward to serving patients once again in Ulaanbaatar.

⭐️NCF Website www.nncf.org/en

15/07/2026

A food package is more than just food. It is a source of encouragement for families who travel long distances to bring their children back for regular follow-up care.

Many caregivers face financial challenges when taking time off work and paying for transportation to the clinic. By providing essential food supplies, the package helps ease some of these daily expenses, allowing families to focus on their child's recovery instead of worrying about their next meal.

During each follow-up visit, children also receive dental care, oral health education, and other supportive activities that promote their health and well-being. Most importantly, families are reminded that they are not walking this journey alone. With continued support, they feel more confident and hopeful about returning for the long-term care their children need.

Every follow-up visit is an important step toward a healthier future, and every food package helps make that journey possible.

⭐️NCF Website www.nncf.org/en

05/07/2026

2027 Charity Desk Calendar Award Winners Announcement

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the craniofacial children for their enthusiastic participation in the 2027 Desk Calendar Artwork Submission Event. Congratulations to the 12 selected finalists!

This year’s theme is: “Glad to Have You”

Through the “Glad to Have You” submission event, we witnessed many sincere and touching stories. Using their paintbrushes, the children depicted the people they are most grateful for in life — some thanked their families who have accompanied them throughout the journey, some thanked their supportive siblings, and others expressed gratitude to the doctors and medical teams who have walked with them through treatment and growth. Every artwork carries love, companionship, and gratitude. These pieces allow us to see the strength that craniofacial children have gained on their growth journey and to feel the most precious connections between people.

We received a total of 96 wonderful submissions from Taiwan and various Asian regions. Each piece tells a moving story, expressing gratitude and blessings to family members, siblings, friends, doctors, and important companions in life through colors and brushstrokes.

After careful deliberation by the jury, 12 artworks were ultimately selected to be featured in the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation’s 2027 Charity Desk Calendar. Due to the limited number of slots, many excellent works could not be selected. The selection process was highly competitive, and it was very difficult for the judges to make final decisions. We sincerely thank every creator for generously sharing these warm stories from their lives. To those who were not selected this time, please do not be discouraged — your works are equally precious and full of power. We look forward to seeing your creations again next year. Keep using your paintbrushes to record love and gratitude, and let more people feel the warmth of “Glad to Have You.”

⭐️NCF Website www.nncf.org/en

29/06/2026

Today, June 29, marks the 99th birthday of Dr. Samuel Noordhoff, the founder of NCF.

In 1989, Dr. Noordhoff realized that although many of his patients had regained physical health through treatment, emotional wounds often remained. Determined to support them beyond medical care, he founded NCF.

"Love them with understanding their needs."

NCF was established to put these words into action, and they have remained the guiding principle of our work ever since. We strive to ensure that every act of care is rooted in empathy and understanding, because true healing goes beyond restoring the body; it also means nurturing the heart and mind.

If this post finds its way to you today, we'd love for you to join us in wishing a very happy 99th birthday to this remarkable man with an extraordinarily generous heart.

⭐️NCF Website www.nncf.org/en

25/06/2026

CLEFT MISSION IN NEPAL

This May, NCF returned to Nepal to carry out a cleft mission at Kirtipur Hospital under PHECT-Nepal. The mission marked another important step in the continued partnership between both teams.

Since 2024, surgeons, orthodontists, and anesthesiologists from Kirtipur Hospital traveled to Taiwan and completed multidisciplinary training at the Craniofacial Center of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. After returning to Nepal, these physicians continued applying their training in local practice and supporting patients in their own communities. Through ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange, local care systems continue to grow and expand.

During this mission, we had the opportunity to witness how this partnership is creating meaningful change.

Among the patients was Yuvan (pseudonym), a 31-year-old man from a mountainous area in southwestern Nepal. To receive treatment in Kathmandu, he traveled 17 hours by bus.

Yuvan received cleft lip surgery through another medical mission when he was two years old. However, his family did not receive guidance on postoperative care or understand that additional treatment for cleft palate would still be needed. As time passed, the unrepaired cleft palate increasingly affected eating, drinking, and speech, eventually contributing to poor nutrition.

Years later, Yuvan was identified through the outreach center of PHECT-Nepal. Healthcare providers noticed severe speech leakage and arranged further evaluation, which revealed a significant cleft palate condition. He was then referred to Kirtipur Hospital for surgery.

For Yuvan and his family, this surgery represents improved health and renewed possibilities for daily life.

Stories like his remind us that sustainable impact is built through long-term partnership, local capacity building, and continued access to care.

Despite limited resources, Kirtipur Hospital continues working to make treatment available to underserved patients across Nepal.

NCF is honored to work alongside local partners and support the development of comprehensive and equitable cleft care, so that more patients can receive the treatment they need.

⭐️NCF Website www.nncf.org/en

15/06/2026

What began as a drawing contest became something much more.

For many years, NCF has invited cleft patients from around the world to participate in our annual charity calendar drawing competition. Each year, we are delighted to see more and more submissions from our international partners.

In Cambodia, our local partner team began organizing group drawing sessions to encourage children to create artwork for the competition. With guidance from art teachers, the children eagerly picked up their pencils and brushes, dreaming of having their artwork selected and earning the opportunity to travel to Taiwan for the award ceremony.

What no one expected was that these drawing sessions would grow into a regular activity that the children look forward to the most.

On clinic days, the children arrive excited not only for their medical appointments, but also for the chance to draw together. Through art, they express their creativity, discover their talents, and build friendships with other children who share similar experiences. The simple act of drawing has become a source of joy, calm, and confidence.

For these children, drawing has brought more than the excitement of winning awards. It has helped ease the anxieties and frustrations they face in daily life, while giving them a space where they can feel proud of who they are.

At NCF, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to shine. Beyond medical care, we are committed to supporting the emotional well-being and self-confidence of cleft patients, helping them recognize their own strengths and potential.

✨ Some wounds are healed through surgery.
Some confidence grows one brushstroke at a time.

05/06/2026

Gia Bao's mother, a laborer, worked in Taiwan with her husband. At 14 weeks of pregnancy, an abnormality was discovered in the fetus at a local obstetrics and gynecology hospital. The doctors there referred her to Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for surgery and arranged a meeting between her and Dr. Lu Ting-Chen. Dr. Lu reassured and encouraged the mother, telling her not to worry, as a professional team would support both mother and child throughout the process. After the baby's birth, the doctors immediately called to inquire about the health of both mother and child.

The patient followed a complete treatment plan, including applying a nasal patch and wearing a nasal alveolar implant (NAM). Surgery was performed when the child was three months old and met the surgical criteria.

The child's surgery was a resounding success; many people can no longer see the scar on his lip. When the mother shares photos of her child, many even believe the child only has a simple cleft palate (without a cleft lip).

The mother expressed regret for not agreeing to receive assistance from the NCF sooner, fearing she might be misled. However, due to the immense effort required to care for her child alone, she eventually agreed to have social workers provide guidance on infant holding techniques, feeding methods, massage techniques, and the proper use of nasal stents.

His mother shared that initially, upon learning of her child's cleft lip and palate, she was very reluctant to disclose this to others. Partly because it was her first time facing such a situation, she lacked relevant information and didn't know who to turn to for help; partly because she was worried about her child's future. However, after receiving meticulous treatment and care from Dr. Lu and NCF, she felt it was essential to share her experience so that other mothers in similar circumstances could receive proper care and achieve the same positive outcomes as Gia Bao. Gia Bao's mother filmed her child's feeding procedures, cleaning and care, wound care, and scar treatment, and uploaded these videos to various social media platforms for other mothers to reference and learn from.

Many mothers who watched the videos inquired about her experience and thus became acquainted with NCF and its Vietnam office—introduced by their Taiwan office after returning home. Therefore, when Gia Bao's mother learned that Dr. Lu would be participating in a medical mission at the Hanoi Children's Hospital in 2026, she signed up, both to reunite with the doctor and to introduce this opportunity to other mothers in the cleft lip and palate community. Among them was the mother of Tran Nguyen Quynh Nhi, a patient from Hue. The two mothers became friends and participated in the 2026 mission together; both children's surgeries yielded excellent results.

⭐️NCF Website www.nncf.org/en

Love Makes Whole

25/08/2026

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25/07/2026

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Monday	09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 18:00
Thursday	09:00 - 18:00
Friday	09:00 - 18:00