During a prenatal ultrasound, Annika's cleft lip went undetected. After birth, her family worried desperately for their child; then they learned that Operation Smile gives free surgery thanks to you.The family made an 18-hour journey to give Annika her new smile. Now others need your help. Please give today. | Operation Smile

Fact about #cleftpalate Causes Cleft lip and cleft palate occur when tissues in the baby's face and mouth don't fuse properly. Normally, the tissues that make up the lip and palate fuse together in the second and third months of pregnancy. But in babies with cleft lip and cleft palate, the fusion never takes place or occurs only part way, leaving an opening (cleft). Researchers believe that most cases of cleft lip and cleft palate are caused by an interaction of genetic and environmental factors