Get behind Team Operation Smile

And you can be there with us in spirit. Helping a boy like young Victor.

We meet a lot of kids. But there are always one or two who touch your heart in a special way … whose stories leave you blinking back the tears … the ones you never forget.

Victor is one of those.

He was born with a cleft lip and palate – and tragically abandoned by his mother. That kind of rejection leaves a scar so deep, it never really fades.

Still, Victor was lucky. A social worker placed him with a caregiver who saw past the cleft, to the little boy who needed love and support so badly. The social worker also referred him to Operation Smile.

We first met Victor at our surgical programme in May 2022, when he received surgery for his cleft lip. The following year, he returned for cleft palate surgery – and once it healed, he began speech therapy sessions at his local hospital.

Unfortunately, his speech difficulties were so challenging, he wasn’t able to start school, because the teachers couldn’t understand him. His speech therapist referred him back to us for a fistula repair – scheduled for 2024.

What a blow it was when Victor was examined prior to surgery by our medical volunteer team, and found to be underweight. It was too risky; the operation had to be postponed.

Again, his social worker stepped in, to supervise specialised nutrition in preparation for surgery next time round.

And now we’re all hoping and praying that it goes ahead next week. So that, finally, Victor will be able to speak clearly with confidence, return to school, and fully embrace his future.

Victor’s journey has taken years … constant ongoing support … surgeries and therapy. All paid for by caring individuals like you. Without your support, our work would not be possible.

Please help us continue helping kids like Victor. Make your donation now – and you’ll receive up to the minute reports from the hospital next week as patients are screened and surgeries begin.

It’s real. It’s now. It happens because people like you support us.