Thanks to specialised surgeons from Gqeberha and an anonymous donor, 24 children from East London are getting life-changing surgery this week.
East London, South Africa (16 May 2022) – Joy is always possible. This sentiment has always rung true for Smile Foundation – a non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of children affected by facial abnormalities and severe burns through the best possible surgical and psychological care.
This upcoming Smile Week has been generously sponsored by an anonymous donor and will be taking place from 16 to 20 May. East London’s Frere Hospital is joining hands with PE Provincial Hospital’s Plastic & Reconstructive surgical team to put the smiles back onto children’s faces through corrective reconstructive surgery and treatments. They will be helping 24 children in need of surgery for treatable facial anomalies like cleft lip, cleft palate, ear conditions, and burn wounds.
“As burn treatment now makes up a sizeable portion of the work that Smile Foundation does, 7 of the children undergoing surgery during Smile Week, are burn survivors. We hold them in our hearts, as well as all the others who have fallen victim to burns in South Africa over this National Burn Awareness Month, and always.” says Kim Robertson Smith, CEO of Smile Foundation.
This is the second Smile Week to take place in East London, during which Dr Chris van Der Walt, Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Port Elizabeth, and his team, will be visiting Frere Hospital to operate throughout the week.
Kim Robertson Smith shares, “Without the dedication, professionalism and kindness of Dr Chris van der Walt and his medical team, as well as the overwhelming generosity of our anonymous financial donor, these life-changing miracles would not be able to take place. We at Smile Foundation are humbled by the magnanimity of everyone who has opened their hearts to support this worthy cause.”
Of the children undergoing surgery is little Lolwethu, who is just 14 months old. Lolwethu was born with a cleft lip and palate and is cared for by her loving grandmother, who supports her granddaughter and her three older siblings by way of a foster care grant. Because of Lolwethu’s facial abnormality, it is with great difficulty that her grandmother feeds her formula.
On commenting on Lolwethu’s case, Dr Chris van der Walt shares, “A highly specialised skill is needed and a strong team effort from the hospital is required to help children born with this common congenital defect. With the right kind of help, one can really make a huge difference for these children. Through surgery, we aim to give Lolwethu the chance to later be able to speak to her family, friends and peers at school. To be able to eat and drink normally, without food and drink escaping through her nose.”
Dr van der Walt continues, “Being able to undergo corrective facial reconstructive surgery is a great challenge in South Africa, as the skills are unfortunately lacking and the only plastic surgeon in East London has retired. My medical team and I are honoured and feel privileged to assist in this regard. We feel it our duty to try and help more children like Lolwethu. We will continue to strive to try to make a positive difference for children that did not choose to be born this way. With our skills and abilities, we are able to make a difference and hope that East London will soon acquire these much-needed medical skills again. It is imperative that us medical professionals continue to train plastic surgeons in the Eastern Cape so that our skills are shared with new and upcoming surgeons who will later be able to assist patients like this. We are also extremely hopeful that we will be able to get the Eastern Cape training platform up and running again, which has unfortunately suffered due to the difficulties around Covid-19.”
This Smile Week is a testament to the fact that when we work together as one nation, we are able to help more children overcome some of life’s greatest obstacles and go on to enjoy a life inspired by happiness, confidence and endless possibilities.
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