s w e N e l i Sm
Issue 9
Ju €180 ast 45 minnd a operat ute io chang n can child’s e a life
New smiles. New beginnings. We’re working to rid the world of cleft lip and cleft palate – so no child has to suffer from a condition that can be corrected with a surgery. Because of your support, we’re that much closer to our goal. Your compassion, commitment and caring for these children who desperately need our help inspires us every day. It’s because of you that their lives are transformed and they can begin their new lives with acceptance and joy instead of shame and bullying.
We hope you enjoy your latest edition of Smile News and from everyone here at Operation Smile, thank you so much for your generosity and support and for being a part of the Operation Smile family. To a wonderful new year, Dr. Bill Magee & Kathy Magee Co-founders, Operation Smile
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Deborah’s new smile
Since 2011, Operation Smile has conducted medical programs across Ghana in cities including Accra, Cape Coast, Tamale, and Tema. More recently, we were in Ho, and met a family whose experience turned to advocacy. Moments after Deborah’s birth in 2011, the family noticed her facial deformity. It was something they had never seen before – a condition they didn’t know existed. Her father, Justin, told us that “a few hours after she was born, my sister-in-law came to the hospital to see Deborah. When she laid eyes on her, she immediately ran out of the hospital room in disgust. She travelled back to our town and told everyone that my wife and I had given birth to a godless child. She said that she couldn’t stand to look at Deborah. That’s why she ran away.” The sister-in-law tried to convince the family to bring Deborah to the town so that she could take the child to a priest who would kill her – because, she claimed,”the child is not a normal human being.” Thankfully, everything changed when one of the nurses from
the hospital told the family that a cleft palate is a birth defect which can be corrected with surgery, not a punishment from God. She gave the family hope. Over the next two weeks the nurses showed them the best way to take care of Deborah to ensure that she would be ready for the operation when the time came. Deborah and her family came to the Operation Smile medical mission in November in Ho, Ghana, and Deborah was put on the surgical schedule to receive surgery on her cleft lip. “When she was going into the surgery we were not nervous. We had seen the surgery outcome before and we knew she was going to be ok,” said Deborah’s Mum, Afere. “When we saw Deborah after the surgery, I was so happy! I started singing, thank you to God and to Operation Smile.” The family made the six hour journey back to their home town of Techiman. Deborah’s father, Justin, says “When we arrived in the town, one woman saw Deborah’s repaired lip and she started crying, then wailing. We comforted her and
>> G HANA asked why and she said she had also had a child with a cleft lip. She had been told to kill the child because ‘he was the devil.’ She didn’t realise that there was a solution. She didn’t realise Operation Smile could help.” Justin realised that people needed to know the truth about cleft so they took Deborah to the sister-in-law’s village to show the community that there is a solution. “I used this opportunity to advise people on what Operation Smile can do,” said Justin. When they arrived at the village, dozens of people had gathered. When they saw Deborah, they did not believe she was the same child. The family showed them Deborah’s photo and her scar and they finally began to believe Justin and his wife. “I believe it is my duty to share our experience with other families. If I see someone with this problem, I keep advising them, I keep telling them that it will be ok.” Justin now acts as an advocate for Operation Smile and hopes Deborah grows up to become a medical doctor. He wants her to be able to help others. Justin is so proud of Deborah. He says that she likes books, singing and reading. She loves playing with other children. Everyone in her kindergarten class loves her. She is smart and bright, and loves asking questions. “In Ghana, people think that when you give birth to a child with a cleft, you are a curse. People even deny you when you ask for water and food for the child,” said Justin. “They think that it will affect the other children who are eating near
Me et the Volunte er
One of our Cork based volunteers, Sabrina O’Leary, travelled on a medical mission to Tamale, Ghana in 2014. About to embark on her third medical mission in February 2016, she reminisces on her experience in Ghana and what inspired her to start volunteering for Operation Smile. “Operation Smile is a family affair for me. I first became familiar with the organisation through my sister Cora, who is a nurse volunteer. I was inspired and excited by her enthusiasm for the organisation and touched by her fabulous photos. When the opportunity arose to train as a medical records volunteer, I jumped at the chance. In 2014 I had the opportunity to travel to Tamale in Ghana. It was overwhelming at first but everyone made me feel at ease and as soon as I saw the babies and children, I felt a massive sense of purpose. I grew so fond of the Operation Smile team during my time in Ghana. The leadership was strong and positive, even under stressful circumstances working long days. There was always a sense of achievement and our shared goal made us willing to go that extra mile, working long hours to help every patient on the list, changing their lives forever. The almost immediate results after surgery were amazing to see and the grateful patients and parents a joy to behold.
the child with the cleft. We have to change this perception.” When I asked Justin if he had a message for the doctors, he said: “I want to say thank you. I was worried when I saw so many people at Cape Coast not being selected. When Operation Smile has more donors, they can attend to even more people. There is a very big need of care in Ghana. People are still calling me, asking me if there is another chance. I told them there is always another chance. Operation Smile will come back over and over.”
It’s a huge sense of accomplishment to do this work and although it sounds a little corny, it feels good for the soul. I return to my job after a mission with a new awareness, new ideas, refreshed and thankful. Humbled by the heart wrenching stories. Honoured to be part of such an amazing organisation. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo with Operation Smile, and I’m very excited to travel to Mexico in February on my third medical mission, to change the lives of even more children.”
If you’re medically qualified and would like to volunteer for Operation Smile, or you know someone else who may want to get involved, please email info@operationsmile.ie or contact us on 01 6676659.
>> WE’D JUST LIKE TO SAY…
You’re amazing! Last year, lots of you took part in a number of events to help raise funds for Operation Smile. Your amazing efforts truly inspired us and below, we share some of our favourite moments with you… Well done to Noel Guilfoyle who ran 100 miles for smiles and raised €2,000 at the Eden Tri Club 100 Mile & 24 Hour Challenge in September.
Congratulations to Nicola Byrne who led the Smurfit Kappa Display team that raised over €3,500 in 2015.
We held our 4th annual Carols by Candlelight Christmas fundraiser at Monkstown Parish Church in Dublin on 10th December. Thanks to all who joined us for some wonderful Christmas singing, mulled wine and fantastic raffle prizes.
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Our year in figures Thanks to the more than 200 volunteers who gave their time at 25 bucket collections in October to make our World Smile Day collection a great success again this year, raising €20,000 for children in need all over the world.
Finally, a massive thank you to everyone who supported us in 2015 with a gift. Your support made a massive difference and last year alone, we were able to provide 15,000 free surgeries for children around the world. We couldn’t have done this without your support so once again, thank you!!!
14,999 12,709 SURGICAL PROCEDURES
SMILING PATIENTS
23 in 18
27
CENTRES
NEW MEDICAL SITES INCLUDING
COUNTRIES DAKHLA, MOROCCO NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR JUIGALPA, NICARAGUA CAPE COAST, GHANA.
161 112 29 MEDICAL
MISSIONS
SITES
COUNTRIES
464 pallets of medical equipment shipped worth 7.1 million euro for 37 medical missions
>> MISSION SPOTLIGHT: GHANA Operation Smile has conducted seven medical missions in Ghana and treated more than 550 patients with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities.
Hana meets one of the children
In November 2015, we conducted a medical mission in Ho, Ghana. Our team of volunteers screened 256 patients and performed 199 procedures. In total, 162 patients were surgically treated. We also met a child, Oko, who came to one of our previous missions. He came back to this mission and we’re pleased to say that he received surgery. Stories like this show why it’s absolutely vital that we go back and continue to give hope to children like Oko and his family.
There are always more children waiting. This is why we must keep going back.
A member of our Operation Smile staff team, Hana who volunteered to go on the mission to assist the medical records team said, “Having the opportunity to volunteer on the mission was such an amazing experience for me. Everyone in the team had an important role to play in helping transform the lives of so many children and their families. You could see the relief and excitement on the faces of parents after their children had successfully undergone surgery, it really was a beautiful and memorable sight.”
>> F ROM THE FIELD
Oko shows off his new smile
María José has six children and seven grandchildren who she supports almost single-handedly. Her 18-year-old daughter, Gisele de Sousa, suffers from extreme epilepsy and lives with María along with some of her siblings. When María José learned Gisele was pregnant, she knew her daughter would need her help to raise the baby since her seizures were getting worse. But she didn’t know just how how much extra help she would need until after baby Lorrane was born.
Lorrane was born with a cleft lip and a cleft palate. María José and Gisele could not comprehend why she was born that way – neither one had ever seen anyone with a cleft condition before. Gisele blamed herself and her epilepsy for her daughter’s cleft lip and cleft palate. María José tried to calm her daughter and told her to accept her baby. Fortunately, there was a doctor at the hospital where Lorrane was born who knew about Operation Smile. He told them that not only could Lorrane’s cleft be repaired, but that Operation Smile were coming to Santarem, on the bank of the Amazon, in August to provide free treatment for children like Lorrane. María José and Gisele’s shock and sadness turned to hope. The family were lucky, it was just a 30 minute bus ride to the hospital where María José and Gisele saw dozens of other families with children like Lorrane. After a day of medical assessments, they were told that Lorrane was healthy enough to receive surgery and that the cleft lip operation would be performed the very next day. María José was, understandably, anxious as her precious granddaughter underwent surgery but her anxiety turned into total happiness when she saw Lorrane’s new smile for the first time. Gisele couldn’t believe her daughter’s transformation in such a short time. Lorrane was discharged from the hospital the next morning and grandmother, mother and granddaughter were all smiles as they said a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the nurses and doctors for their care and headed home to celebrate their new life together with family and friends.
01 6676659 • operationsmile.ie Charity Reg No.CHY 15661
Plea our wese see the late bsite for and fo st news, on Facllow us and Twebook itter
>> GET INVOLVED
>> Y OU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Whether you want to take part in one of our fundraising events (see below) or hold your own event, we are ready and waiting to help you every step of the way. Please get in touch with us on 01 6676659 or info@operationsmile.ie
Every 3 minutes, a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, preventing them from eating properly, speaking clearly or even smiling. A simple operation could save their lives, but their Mums and Dads simply don’t have the money. It takes as little as 45 minutes and €180 EUR to change their lives forever. You can make a difference, please help.
VHI Women’s Mini Marathon 06 June 2016 Join team Operation Smile and turn your miles to smiles at the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon on Bank Holiday Monday 6th June. The VHI Women’s Mini Marathon is the biggest all women’s event of its kind in the world. It has grown from its beginnings in 1983 with almost 9,000 participants to a staggering 41,006 women participating in 2014! 25th International Student Leadership Conference: 18 - 25 July 2016
Operation Smile invests in young people as our leaders of tomorrow. Join 700 students from over 25 countries for Operation Smile’s 25th International Student Leadership Conference at San Diego State University from 18-25 July, 2016. Through our leadership development programme, students are empowered to create global movement for positive change, to reflect on equality, and to advocate for those who need our help until we heal that last child. World Smile Day – Join our Smile Crew!: October 2016 World Smile Day is celebrated on the first Friday of October each year, and is a wonderful opportunity for Operation Smile to raise awareness and funds for children born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate facial deformities. In October 2015 more than 200 volunteers took to the streets at more than 25 locations around the country to shake buckets and raise awareness for Operation Smile, raising €20,000 for children in need of surgery around the world. Contact us to join our Smile Crew for October 2016!
Planned Mission Schedule for 2016 January 2 - 8 Vietnam January 11 - 15 Vietnam February 5 - 6 Colombia February 15 - 19 Thailand February 17 - 27 Mexico February 18 - 26 Honduras February 19 - 28 Philippines February 19 - 28 Philippines February 19 - 28 Philippines March 4 - 12 Morocco March 5 - 11 Vietnam March 8 - 18 Ethiopia March 10 - 18 Bolivia March 11 - 15 Ecuador March 14 - 18 Vietnam March 21 - 25 Vietnam April 4 - 8 Vietnam April 6 - 16 Mexico April 13 - 23 Vietnam April 14 - 17 Colombia April 21 - 24 Colombia May 6 - 13 Vietnam May 6 - 8 Morocco May 9 - 13 Vietnam May 19 - 22 Colombia May 23 - 27 Vietnam June 6 - 10 Vietnam June 6 - 10 Vietnam June 10 - 15 Russia June 10 - 17 Morocco June 13 - 17 Thailand June 13 - 17 Vietnam June 24 - July 2 Vietnam
Experience the joy of a child’s transformation by watching our YouTube videos. Get real-time updates on our Twitter feed @OpSmileIrl Then share the smiles and spread the word on Facebook. Once you’ve read this issue of ‘Smile News’ help us to raise awareness of our work by sharing it with family and friends, or leaving it at your doctor’s surgery for others to read.
Ho Chi Minh City Hanoi Cali Mae Hong Sorn Guadalajara Tegucigalpa Cavite Isabella South Cotabato Ouarzazate Ho Chi Minh City Jimma Santa Cruz Portoviejo Hanoi Hanoi Hanoi San Cristóbal de las Casas Hue Barranquilla Arauca Ho Chi Minh City Bouizakarn Hanoi Cartagena Ho Chi Minh City Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Krasnoyarsk Beni-Mallal Sisaket Hanoi An Giang