Sascha Franzel, who died a year ago after a severe asthma attack while enrolled at Colorado State University, dreamed of becoming a pediatric craniofacial surgeon who helped youngsters with cleft lips and palates and other facial and skull deformities.
"She wanted to help them so they could smile," said Sonia Franzel of her daughter, a Mid-Pacific Institute graduate.
As a girl, Sascha attended a YWCA camp where she met a boy with a cleft lip. While the other children were afraid of the boy, Sascha befriended him and developed a compassion for people with his disorder, her mother said.
At age 15, Sascha volunteered at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, working with premature babies and shadowing plastic surgeons who performed cleft palate surgeries.
HOW TO HELP
Sascha Julia Franzel Life Fund:
Mail donations care of Kapiolani Health Foundation, 55 Merchant St., Suite 2600, Honolulu, HI 96813.
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"Sascha knew what she wanted to do from a very young age," said her father, David Franzel. "She never changed her mind."
To honor their daughter and help with their grief, the Franzels are launching the Sascha Julia Franzel Life Fund to support Kapiolani’s Craniofacial Clinic.
"When a child passes unexpectedly, hopes and dreams are lost unless you can figure out a way to perpetuate their legacy," David Franzel said. "We tried to create something positive out of something so horrible."
The timing of the fund is fitting, as September includes Sascha’s birthday and the first anniversary of her death, and is also Craniofacial Acceptance Month.
"Sascha had the most beautiful smile and contagious laughter. She will be happy that these kids can smile and look at themselves in the mirror," her mother said.
The fund is aimed at helping children such as 4-year-old Jolie Mae Ibrao, who was born with a cleft lip and palate and makes regular visits to Kapiolani’s Craniofacial Clinic. The little girl has endured two oral surgeries and three ear surgeries, and will later need additional orthodontic work.
Each year in the United States, more than 51,000 babies are born with cleft lips or palates, about 1 newborn in every 750 births.
The relatively simple surgery is only the start of healing for these children, who also might have impaired speech and neurological function.
Melissa Ibrao, Jolie’s mother, said she is grateful for the clinic’s services, some of which are considered cosmetic and are not covered by health insurance.
"Her face will keep changing into adulthood, so we don’t know exactly what she will need," she said. "The clinic makes things easier. They schedule all of her appointments in one day and provide lots of support."
The Sascha Julia Franzel Life Fund will help pay for orthodontic work and allow clients to purchase costly assistive devices such as special bottle nipples and sippy cups, explained Kirsten Pennaz, manager of clinical operations at the hospital’s outpatient clinics. "We also create a binder of resources to help keep parents organized," she said.
The Franzels hope the clinic will continue to receive a check every year from the fund that bears their daughter’s name.
"Her dream of becoming a craniofacial surgeon is coming to fruition, just in a different shape and form," Sonia Franzel said.
