The true essence of giving is best captured in a famous quote by Kahlil Gibran: “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” It is through this very generosity of self, that every Smile Week becomes a life-changing success for underprivileged children across Mzansi.
Smile Week, is a full working week, coordinated by Smile Foundation, during which surgeons, their surgical teams and other medical professionals, team up to perform reconstructive surgery on children with facial anomalies and burn injuries.
Starting on 9 April 2024, this Smile Week will take place at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa. The week is funded by Good Morning Angels (GMA) – a feature programme on Jacaranda FM, that showcases the strength of the human spirit, community, kindness, and the power of radio as a media platform. Good Morning Angels have successfully been bringing those in need and willing sponsors together since 2004. They managed to raise R2.1 million last Mandela Day through public support for the previous Smile Week initiative and others in need of corrective surgery.
Among the 22 children undergoing surgery during the week – majority of which will be undergoing cleft repair surgery – is little Matlhatsi, an 8-month-old baby boy from Rustenburg.
Matlhatsi was born with a lateral cleft lip (Tessier 7 Craniofacial Cleft), which is a rare congenital anomaly. Anomalies like these make a child’s mouth unnaturally large and any facial expression causes their condition to be even more noticeable. This type of facial cleft affects the soft tissues and underlying skeletal structures of the face and can in some instances, be bilateral, (affecting both sides of the face symmetrically). Thankfully, Matlhatsi’s case presents a lateral cleft lip which extends from the one corner of his mouth to his left ear.
Dr. Franco Swartz, one of the attending plastic surgeon registrars explains that it involves commissuroplasty, a procedure to reconstruct facial tissues, muscles, and skeletal structures. Their objective is to improve the way he will experience the world around him and his overall quality of life.
Tessier 7 craniofacial clefts, like Matlhatsi's, are exceptionally rare, providing valuable experience for cleft surgeons. Professor Solly Selahle, Head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, is sharing his expertise with DGMAH. He is collaborating with Professor Kenny Segwape, the Head of Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital, to ensure the surgery's success.
Matlhatsi’s mother, Abigail, elaborates on her son’s condition: “I didn’t know about things like this, until my boy was born. Nothing prepares you. It is difficult for us to go anywhere because people stop and stare without any shame at my child, and it is hurtful. I am grateful for Smile Foundation and the doctors, and everything they are doing to give my Matlhatsi the operation he needs to live a normal life.”
Tarri Parfitt, CEO of Smile Foundation, concludes: “All children should be able to feel loved and understood growing up. Sadly, there are still many who due to facial anomalies or burn injuries and a lack of financial resources, will never fully experience the freedom and joy that acceptance brings. But things are changing for the better and through the selfless dedication of the surgeons and medical support teams, the generosity of incredible sponsors like Good Morning Angels and their listeners, and everyone who has ever offered their time and talent throughout our many Smile Weeks, Smile Foundation is able to help more underprivileged children, get the surgery they
need to live brighter, more fulfilling lives.”