Six year old Kgomotso was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. His mother was reassured that surgery was available and, time and again, she brought her child from their home in Vereeniging to Johannesburg for help.
Each time he was put on a waiting list, and each time the surgery date arrived, it was cancelled. Eventually she lost all faith in the health system.
Meanwhile Kgomotso was growing up. He started school where, despite his teachers doing their best to protect him, he suffered merciless bullying. His mom and grandparents knew he needed to be in school to learn essential skills like reading, writing and counting. But every day was a nightmare for this little boy.
In desperation his grandparents took him to Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital where they met Sister Minnie, who told them about the Operation Smile surgical programme. His mother reached out to our patient coordinator, Dakalo, with the desperate question: “Are you definitely sure you can help us?” She’d had her hopes raised and dashed so many times before that she was afraid to trust us.
July surgical programme
But in July this year, Kgomotso was one of 40 children who received surgery for his cleft lip at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg. Next year we will return to repair his cleft palate.
It’s incredible to think that an operation lasting around 45 minutes has the power to change a child’s life. With the scar healing nicely, Kgomotso now looks just like the other kids.
Our work would not be possible without the generous services of our medical volunteers and our circle of supporters who contribute towards the cost of equipment, care and transport. If you’d like to join in and help give another child like Kgomotso a new smile, please click here.