UAE: Free life-changing surgeries help children smile bright this Eid Al Fitr

Extra sweet smiles were written this Eid Al Fitr on the faces of children who previously had cleft lips and cleft palates. Thanks to Operation Smile and ‘Smiley Summer Campaign’ by a UAE mall, dozens of children were given free surgeries and safe cleft care.

One of them was 10-year-old South African student Josiah Pietersen. He was still recovering from a recent bone graft procedure when he spoke over the phone with Khaleej Times and said the surgery was a success and a major milestone in his young life.

“It was weird at first because a bone was taken from my hip and placed in my mouth,” he said, adding: “But I also feel now more comfortable and flexible. After undergoing two surgeries, I feel I can do almost everything."

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The bone grafting was the second surgery required to support the teeth and close any remaining gaps in Josiah’s cleft area.

Always with a ready smile, Josiah – whose favourite sport is football – is described by his mother, Leanne, as a trooper. He is “a boy with great energy, curiosity and enthusiasm.”

Leanne also admitted it was traumatic for a parent like her to see her son undergo invasive surgeries. But she’s thankful to the medical team who provided them with utmost care.

“The doctors and staff at Healthpoint Hospital in Abu Dhabi did a beautiful job. Josiah is recovering fast and will be returning to school soon. Eight weeks after the surgery, he will have dental braces,” Leanne, who is based in Al Ain, added.

Common birth defect

Cleft is the third most common birth defect worldwide. Cleft lip and cleft palette, conditions where a baby’s lip or mouth doesn’t fully form during pregnancy, are prevalent congenital deformities affecting as many as one in 500 births in certain ethnic groups.

According to medical reports, every three minutes, a child is born globally with cleft defect, leading to a variety of challenges such as difficulty with speech, hearing impairment, language development, dental health, and social isolation.

Moreover, these individuals may struggle with basic functions like eating and smiling. Operation Smile, however, noted “modern reconstructive surgeries today have made it possible to drastically restore normalcy for cleft lip and cleft palette patients.” Surgery begins at three months old and, in some cases, may continue through the teenage years.

Life-changing surgeries

Dubai-based Palestinian couple, Faten and Ahmed are thankful for the free life-changing surgery done to their five-month old baby, Khalid Ataya.

“Operation was done smoothly – just less than one hour,” said Ahmed, who added the surgery was the best gift they received even before Eid.

Both Faten and Ahmed are worried that children who grew up with cleft lefts are bullied in school. The cost of surgery is quite prohibitive but they are thankful that there are organisations like Operation Smile that help people without asking questions or lengthy procedures.

“Our only wish for our son is to be always healthy and confident in life,” the parents added.

Filipino couple Theriz, 33, and Roland Taruc, 43, wish the same for the their first-born son, Yuri.

Theriz said she was terrified at first when she learned during pregnancy ultrasound that her son has unilateral cleft palate. “There was no history of cleft defect in the family and I was crying during my pregnancy when I learned about it,” said Theriz.

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