When young mom, Lebone, brought her baby to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital for the Operation Smile surgical programme in May 2025, her heart was in her mouth.
This was her third attempt to get surgery for little Rorisang. He was born with a bilateral cleft lip, and had previously been turned away – not once, but twice.
At our Gauteng programme last year, intensive pre-surgical health screening revealed that Rorisang had an undiagnosed heart condition. Thanks to our screening, Lebone found out about the condition and was able to get treatment for her baby. But cleft surgery had to be postponed until the he was fully recovered.
Months later, Lebone brought her little one to our surgical programme in Mthatha. But it was another heartbreaking, “not yet,” for this determined young mom. Because Rorisang was found to be underweight, making surgery too risky.
But in May, Lebone’s perseverance and determination finally paid off. Rorisang was strong enough and surgery went ahead. And for Lebone, the long wait ended in overwhelming relief and joy.
Thanks to support from our generous partners and donors, 37 children like Rorisang now have a chance at a brighter, healthier future. But the backlog of children still waiting for surgery remains. Operation Smile is running a further two surgical programmes this year – in July and October.
Your ongoing support ensures that we have everything we need to continue providing world-class surgery, care and new smiles for children born with cleft conditions. Your donations pay for transport for volunteers, patients and equipment – as well as accommodation and care, and medical supplies such as dressings, drugs, drips, scrubs, masks and gloves.
