Jacaranda’s Good Morning Angels teamed up with the Smile Foundation to fund the operations of 22 children, thanks to the donation of R2.1 million.
South Africa (12 March 2024) – #1 New York Times, bestselling author, Suze Orman, once wrote: “True generosity is an offering; given freely and out of pure love without any expectations. Time and love are the most valuable possession you can share.” This sentiment captures the very essence of every Smile Week.
Coordinated by Smile Foundation, Smile Week is a full working week during which surgeons, their surgical teams and other medical professionals come together to perform reconstructive surgery on children whose families would not otherwise be able to afford it.
Commencing on 11 March 2024, this Smile Week will be taking place at Universitas Academic Hospital. The week is funded by Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels – a feature on Breakfast with Martin Bester every Wednesday morning.
Good Morning Angels has been changing lives since 2005, by bringing hope through kindness, creating a community of giving and support to those who need it most. For Mandela Day 2023, Good Morning Angels raised R2.1 million through public support for the children of this Smile Week and others in need of corrective surgery.
Among the 22 children undergoing surgery during the week, is little Naledi and Arrianna Botha. Naledi was born with Microtia – a congenital ear deformity in which the external ear is malformed and underdeveloped. She will be undergoing an outer ear reconstruction, using cartilage from her rib.
Arrianna is a 9-year-old girl from Sasolburg who survived a brutal dog attack on 20 September 2022. In an instant, this little girl’s life was forever altered, without any forewarning when the family dog attacked her at her home. She suffered extensive damage to her scalp, multiple bite wounds and the emotional trauma surrounding this ordeal and being bullied by other children because of her disfigurement.
“Our purpose-driven work to change lives in our community for the past 19 years has seen many projects come to life through Good Morning Angels, but this one is extra special because these surgeries will be life-changing for these children who deserve every opportunity in life.” Comments Dierdre King, Managing Director of Jacaranda FM.
During September Smile Week last year, Arrianna underwent scalp expander surgery to repair the damage to her head, during which a tissue expander was surgically placed under her scalp and inflated gradually over a period of months with saline solution.
Arrianna’s mother, Ailleen Botha, elaborates:
“I can tell how uncomfortable Arrianna has been over these past few months with this big balloon on the one side of her head, but she has never once complained. Our family travels a long way every second week for her medical consultations and we are so grateful to Smile Foundation for being kind enough to help us cover the expenses of these trips. In all that our daughter has been through, she is doing well at school with the support of her teacher.
My husband Anton, and I would like to thank Arrianna’s dedicated team of plastic surgeons at Universitas, and Smile Foundation for everything they have done and will be doing for our daughter. Arrianna is looking so forward to having her head covered with hair again, which will help her to be less self-conscious.”
Dr Nikita Blake and her surgical team will perform Arrianna’s follow-up surgery on March 13. The surgery will involve removing the tissue expander and stretching the scalp flap to cover the extensive damaged area with hair.
“We thank the phenomenal team of surgeons, medical professionals, and hospital staff at UAH, who will be dedicating their time and talents to give these children the surgery they need. We also express our heartfelt appreciation to Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels and all the listeners for their contributions, which have led to countless more smiles and brighter futures. Through our many Smile Weeks, we have learned that unconditional love is a catalyst for reshaping destinies for the better. Having a steadfast sense of self is every child’s birth right and we are honoured to play a part in helping children – who lack this due to physical abnormalities – find a happier and more fulfilling way of being,” concludes Tarri Parfitt, CEO of Smile Foundation.
Sources: Smile Foundation
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 