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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - A lot of smiling was going on at George Hospital on Monday morning 28 November when Smile Week 2022 started with a medical team from Cape Town performing corrective and reconstructive surgery on a number of little patients from the Garden Route.
Thirteen children were on the operating list for the three-day outreach at the hospital, most of whom have a cleft lip or cleft palate that needs to be fixed.
Smile Week is coordinated by the Smile Foundation and is aimed at helping disadvantaged children with physical abnormalities in order to transform their lives.
On Monday, one of the operations performed was a bilateral breast reduction on a Grade 11 learner who suffered from symptomatic macromastia.
"This means her breasts were largely disproportionate to her body size and caused her pain and other physical problems. As a result of continuous bullying over many years at school, Bronwyn has been suffering from extreme anxiety and low self-esteem," said Toni Jabour, Smile Foundation marketing manager.
Dr Francois Roodt (left) and Dr Erasmus working on a little patient.
According to Dr Saleigh Adams, who heads up the operating team, they removed 3,5kg of breast tissue. He said the girl was constantly in pain and she could not run or play sport.
The young patient said her condition made it hard to focus and study because she suffered from self-doubt as a result of constant mocking by other children. "It is not just a physical weight that I carry around with me every day, but an emotional one too."
Another girl with a "clown" nose was also scheduled for corrective surgery. Oyintando Awu's mom, Nosiyamtemba, has had a difficult journey in trying to get the correct medical help for her daughter. She was sent from pillar to post for several years while the non-malignant tumour in Oyintando's nose continued to grow bigger.
The operating team whose hands bring healing to children's lives, from left: Dr Gertruida van Niekerk, Prof Saleigh Adams, Dr Cebo Bega and Dr Samuel Isaacs.
Oyintando was constantly teased and did not want to appear in public any more.
Adams said the tumour had already shrunk by about half through radiation treatments at the Red Cross Memorial Hospital in Cape Town, but the operation would still be tricky and would be performed from inside the nose. Once her nose has healed, Oyintando can look forward to attend and enjoy Grade 1 next year without dreading being made fun of.
VIDEO: Smile Week changing lives through surgery
Adams said bringing the surgeries closer to home for children in this region, makes it so much easier for them and their families. It also frees up space and time for other children at the Red Cross and Groote Schuur hospitals.
He has been involved with the Smile Foundation since 2009 and initiated the annual Smile outreach to George Hospital in 2014. This year is his 19th Smile initiative. A surgeon in private practice from Cape Town, Gertruida van Niekerk, serves on the team with him, giving of her own time to be part of Smile Week.
Surgery to correct ear deformities, burns, craniofacial conditions and facial paralysis are also offered through the Smile Foundation's efforts. The foundation also offers psychological support to patients and their families.
The Smile Foundation is funded through donations and their own fund-raising efforts.
Contact the foundation on 010 753 3034.
Lovely little Oyintando Awu, excited to get rid of the tumour on her nose during Smile Week at George Hospital.
Onika van Zyl in high spirits before her surgery.
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