Helping Darina from Siberia

Fighting stigma: parents of girl born with half a face tell of their battle to help her

When Darina was born 3 years ago without lips and a chin, her mother lost consciousness from shock, and soon her family disowned the child.


Now mother Elena Shpengler, 46, is fighting back against the prejudice faced by her infant daughter, as doctors begin the slow process to rebuild her face.

This page was set up by The Siberian Times online newspaper's team to support Darina and her family