In commemoration of Mandela Month, Smile Foundation, Operation Smile South Africa, and Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital joined forces for the Madiba Smile Relay, from July 22 to 28.
Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital CEO, Dr Nonkululeko Boikhutso said collaboration was an important aspect of the hospital’s core values.
“It is exciting that Smile is on board for the second time, and we are hoping for a long-term relationship. We also like to see the impact the life-changing surgeries have on parents and families who are being helped; receiving medical assistance here is like a new lease on life for families; as a hospital, we are happy to be part of the life-changing moments.”
The momentous event aims to provide corrective surgery for over 67 children, honouring Madiba’s legendary struggle for social justice. Without surgery, children with clefts, and other complex facial conditions, are confronted with serious and debilitating long-term health problems, and will likely suffer from emotional bullying and isolation.
14-year-old, Jessica du Plessis from Pretoria was born with Moebius Syndrome, a rare medical condition causing facial nerve paralysis among children undergoing life-changing surgery.
Jessica’s mother, Janine du Plessis noted, “we connected with Smile Foundation for her initial surgery in 2016, a 10-hour facial reanimation procedure targeting one side of her face, performed by Professor George Psaras. She now returns for another surgery, to receive a free functional muscle transfer on the other side of her face, providing symmetry to her smile. This surgery will be performed by Dr Dimitri Liakos, one of the few surgeons in South Africa capable of performing this procedure.”
Du Plessis added that it was an extensive operation that would be life-changing, and meant Jessica would be understood better and accepted in society.
Children with Moebius Syndrome cannot smile, frown, or blink their eyes.
Without facial expressions, it is not only difficult to know when they are happy, sad, or angry, but they also experience great difficulty in connecting with the world around them, which can lead to painful isolation and emotional trauma.
Challenges experienced by Jessica include being born with bilateral clubfeet, which causes a baby’s feet to turn inward or downward, for which she underwent corrective surgery on both feet. She was also immunodeficient and spent much of her first 18 months of life frequenting hospitals due to chronic bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
It was a case similar to Jessica’s that initiated the start of Smile Foundation: Thando was born with Moebius Syndrome, the inability to smile, and her mother sought help from former President Nelson Mandela, who made a life-changing call that would help secure surgery for Thando, as well as countless others to come.
Madiba’s belief that the future of our nation is in the hands of our children continues to be a driving motivation for the Smile Foundation, which has helped over 5 800 previously disadvantaged children with facial abnormalities.
Group executive public affairs of Adcock Ingram, Nkosinathi Mthethwa added that Adcock Ingram was honoured to be in partnership with Smile Foundation for life-changing corrective surgery intervention in the lives of the children of South Africa during Smile Week.
“The company is committed to adding value to the lives of all children undergoing corrective surgery during Smile Week, and in the future.”
Olesego Phakwe’s mother, Nthabiseng was also thankful that Smile Foundation could help her son complete his craniofacial surgery.
“I am happy that he will finally be getting surgery; although it’s risky, I trust the doctors. He only had surgery on his eye, and this week will be the first time operating on the rest of his face.”
CEO of Smile Foundation, Tarri Parfitt extended her heartfelt gratitude to their longstanding and committed donor Adcock Ingram, and the dedicated team of surgeons and medical staff from Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
“Together, we help sprinkle a bit of magic into the lives of these children, giving them a future full of joy.”
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