Smile Week changes kids' lives

GEORGE NEWS - The Smile Foundation is running their Smile Week at George Hospital this week, helping 18 children in need of reconstructive surgery that will significantly impact their lives.

The project is done in collaboration with medical professionals and staff of the hospital, led by Prof Saleigh Adams who flew in from Cape Town.

Marc Lubner, co-founder and executive chairman of the Smile Foundation, says extensive burn injuries and physical deformities lead to social anxiety which affects children's mental wellbeing and their overall quality of life.

"The longer a child lives with these conditions, the greater the emotional damage they endure. Through our Smile Week initiatives we strive to assist such children whose families are unable to afford the necessary surgery."

The intervention is done as early as possible to lessen the negative impact on the children's lives.

Smile Week is sponsored by the Reatile Foundation Trust and Lubner said their sponsorship and the professionals who dedicate their time and expertise to the initiative are ensuring that these children have a fresh start in life.

Among the children undergoing surgery this Smile Week, are Naluthando, a 15-month-old boy from Thembalethu, and 14-year-old Kara who was born in Nelspruit but now lives in George.

Naluthando was born with a bilateral tessier 7 classification facial cleft, a defect in the soft tissue and bones of the face of a child. Such conditions are more severe than the more common cleft lip and palate.

According to his mother, Zimbini her son’s condition has impacted the whole family. “Seeing Naluthando for the first time was heart-breaking, especially after a difficult pregnancy, but my first thought was thank goodness my baby is alive and well. I accepted him from day one and promised I would do my best for him. The difficult part is that I have to care for him myself and I am unable to work. This has been hard for us financially. The costs to get to and from the hospital and all the extra care that Naluthando needs has caused us a lot of stress.”

Zimbini said the surgery will open many doors for him growing up. "My whole family knows about the Smile Foundation and the team that are coming to George to give our boy a better life. We are so grateful to all of them for what they are doing for our little Naluthando.”

Kara
Kara was born with Poland Syndrome, which presents as missing or underdeveloped chest wall muscles on one side of the body. In some cases, the child also has abnormally short, webbed fingers of the hand on the same side of their body.

Affected females with such a condition may also present the underdevelopment or absence of one breast and underlying tissue, as in Kara’s case. Her condition was not detected at birth, but at the age of one, her mother, noticed abnormal development of her hand.

Ansie, Kara’s mother, said primary school was very difficult for Kara as she was bullied all the time. "This affected her psychologically and she needed counselling to help her get through the emotional abuse she was going through at school."
Now a teenager, Kara withdraws from activities that most girls her age would normally enjoy.

She never goes to the beach and avoids any activity that requires her to wear a swimming costume or tight fitting clothing, which draws attention to her physical differences. "My child has waited in hope for many years for surgery and we are finally seeing her biggest wish come true. Kara is so excited and is looking forward to her first 'normal' school holiday this December.

"She also can’t wait to get herself a swimming costume and enjoy the sea for the very first time. We are extremely grateful to Smile Foundation for helping to make this all happen for Kara and we are looking forward to her new journey of life ahead.”
For more information or to donate to the Smile Foundation, visit their Facebook page.

Faithline Case awaiting her operation.