Spring Smile News

A childhood overshadowed

Under the scorching sun of Toamasina in Madagascar, a little girl called Leana chases soap bubbles, her laughter ringing through the air. She is bright-eyed and full of joy, yet her journey has been anything but easy. Born with a cleft lip, Leana has faced health problems, social isolation, and four failed attempts at surgery. But today, after years of waiting, Leana’s new smile is finally within reach.

For her mother, Angeline, the shame and isolation of her daughter’s cleft has been unbearable. “The gossip was the worst,” she recalls. “I didn’t hear what they said, but I knew people talked behind my back. I was too ashamed to take her to church — until a woman told me she was a gift from God.”

Leana’s family learned about Operation Smile when she was just six months old and immediately sought help. But their journey would be filled with heartbreak and obstacles.

A journey of resilience

Leana’s first attempt at surgery was unsuccessful; her cleft had made it hard for her to feed so she was small for her age and malnourished. Determined to give their daughter a better future, her parents left their farm and travelled to Antsirabe for another surgical programme, but once again, Leana was deemed too unwell for surgery and they left disappointed. Then the global pandemic struck, delaying everything further.

Despite these hardships, Leana’s family never gave up. Thanks to support from Operation Smile’s nutrition programme, Leana finally reached a healthy weight. But even then, the setbacks continued. She developed a fever before one scheduled surgery, and on another occasion, doctors suspected an infection. Each time, the family’s hopes were crushed.

The moment of truth

Now, at her fifth surgical programme, Leana sits quietly in her mother’s lap as Swedish volunteer paediatrician Christian Gadsbøll listens to her lungs. Suddenly, concern flickers across his face. He consults his colleague Christian Kampik the anaesthetist. Time seems to freeze. Surely, they won’t have to turn Leana away again?

After what feels like an eternity, the team of medical volunteers smile. Leana is healthy. She is finally getting her surgery. “I almost had a heart attack,” Christian says, “Last time, we had to stop before we could even start. I’m so, so happy that Leana is finally having her surgery today.”

Hours later, in the recovery room, Angeline strokes her daughter’s cheek gently. Tears of relief glisten in her eyes. The long wait is over.

A bright future

A year has passed since Leana’s surgery. Now back in her village, she beams with confidence, surrounded by children who had previously shunned her.

“Leana’s life has completely changed,” says Angeline. “The children who once avoided her now come to play with her. Her surgery has brought us joy and happiness.”

For the first time, Leana’s future looks bright. Soon she will start school, and her parents dream of an education that will open doors and lead to the bright future every child deserves.

Watch Leana’s film

Last time, we had to stop before we could even start. I’m so, so happy that Leana is finally having her surgery today.

Christian Kampik, volunteer anaesthetist

A watchful eye and a caring heart

Ghanaian born Doreenlove Serwah tells us she can’t imagine being anything other than a nurse. Her passion for nursing and the will to give something back, have driven her to volunteer on countless Operation Smile surgical programmes, a responsibility she’s been proud to fulfil for more than a decade.

Hear more from Doreenlove

Bringing care closer for Rwanda

Building a sustainable system

Dr. Faustin Ntirenganya, plastic surgeon and associate professor at the University of Rwanda highlights the importance of this initiative: “You can’t teach a person how to swim if you don’t have a swimming pool.” This effort is part of a ‘hub and spoke’ model of care—with a central hospital in Kigali and six regional centres ensuring that no Rwandan is more than 75 kilometres from specialised surgical care.

Training the next generation

Drs. Furaha and Ntirenganya were Rwanda’s first plastic surgeons. Today, thanks to your support and partnerships with the University of Rwanda, COSECSA, and the Ministry of Health, the country now has five certified plastic surgeons, with six more in training.

Dr. Fidel Simba, one of these six trainees explains: “In Rwanda, the need is especially great. We are 13 million being served by just five plastic surgeons. There are so many patients out there who are not getting the right care. You can imagine the gap. Going through this training and working with so many different surgeons is a privilege.”

A sustainable future

Dr. Augustino Hellar, Operation Smile’s East Africa regional director, believes this model can transform healthcare: “Once this is built locally, it can be expanded within the country to provide care to everyone. It shows us that this will be sustainable for a long time.”

This initiative is not just about surgery, it’s about creating a healthcare system that empowers local communities and provides lifesaving care for generations to come.

All the equipment is new. It’s a big contribution to the development of this country and this city.

Dr. Fidel Simba, trainee surgeon

Chances are, at some point in your journey as an Operation Smile supporter you’ll have been in touch with a member of our Supporter Care team. Meet Zahrah, Sophia and Amy, three unsung heroes who make sure things run smoothly and that there’s always a friendly face at the end of the phone or email.

As well as keeping our records up to date, the team helps process donations and answers any queries or questions that might arise along the way. It’s a busy, but rewarding job, and all three team members speak of the enjoyment they get from their interactions with you, the people who make our work possible.

Senior Supporter Care Manager Zahrah says, “It’s always lovely to hear from our supporters, the reasons why they donate and about their personal experiences. There was one supporter that used to write to me, she used to sell a homemade condiment and send all the proceeds to OSUK, she used to say it brought her so much joy knowing she was able to make a difference. Her daughter now continues doing the same in her memory.”

Supporter Care Officer Sophia, recalls a conversation with one gentleman who had decided to support Operation Smile after the birth of his two granddaughters, she says, “I remember he wrote ‘Everybody deserves a fair crack at life and happiness and if a simple operation gives them that then I’m happy to do what I can to help.’ His words have stuck with me ever since.”

All three team members have been moved by the conversations they’ve had with some of you about your reasons to support Operation Smile, Supporter Care Officer Amy recalls a conversation with a lady who was inspired to donate to Operation Smile after her own experiences working overseas, “What really touched me was her passion for spreading awareness about the cause.” Says Amy, “she wanted to do everything she could to ensure more children received the care they deserved. It’s conversations like these that remind me of the powerful impact our supporters can have – not only through donations but also by raising awareness.”

Spotlight on Colombia

In Colombia, most plastic surgeons work in the central locations, so people living outside of bigger cities have limited access to specialised care. There has also been a boom in cosmetic surgery in the country, which means fewer plastic surgeons specialise in cleft and reconstructive surgery.

Operation Smile’s hub and spoke model is helping to bring care closer to patients in remote areas. Our hub hospital in Bogotá provides specialised care and advanced training, feeding the spoke hospitals in Cali and Cartagena. We also provide care to vulnerable patients as part of our Transcending Borders iniative in La Guajira.

In the next five years, we plan to provide surgery for 3,420 patients, invest in local infrastructure and education programmes. We currently run surgical programmes in nine regions across Colombia and partner with 15 hospitals.