You have the power to change a child’s life
Please get behind our dedicated Operation Smile team
Next weekend, they’re off to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha to give 30 children born with cleft lip or palate life-changing surgery.
These patients are mostly from rural areas with few resources and even less money. If not for Operation Smile – and generous supporters like you – they might never get the surgery they need.
Three-year-old Akhanyile is one of the lucky ones.
Last year, she had surgery to repair her cleft lip. We can’t wait to see her beautiful new smile (and share pictures with you). Because, back then, Akhanyile didn’t smile much. Most of the time she would cover her mouth with her hand because she knew she looked different.
Now that she’s older, we need to repair her cleft palate. Although it’s not as noticeable, a cleft palate is more serious. Without surgery, Akhanyile could struggle to learn to speak, and face serious dental problems. That’s why it’s so important for her to have more surgery now.
But she’s just one of 30 children needing help. And we’ve promised to help as many of them as we can. That’s where your support makes all the difference.
Because, even though our volunteer surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses and dentists give freely of their time, we have to provide all the supplies and equipment they need.
Drugs, scalpels, swabs, needles and sutures, IV packs, dressings, masks, gloves and scrubs for 30 patients all add up to thousands of rands. Plus there’s the cost of getting our team and the patients to and from Mthatha, and taking care of everyone’s needs.
Please can we count on your support again now? Your donation of any amount makes you part of the team at the hospital … helping to ensure we have everything we need to give all 30 kids their beautiful new smiles.
Watch our website and social media next weekend for updates direct from the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha … and pictures of the little ones who are getting the help they need, thanks to you.
Thank you for caring about children who might otherwise not have access to safe surgery.
