Love saves Joycelyn's life

Joycelyn was abandoned by her mother because of her cleft. She needed urgent help. Thankfully Operation Smile and a lady called Cynthia stepped in to give her the love and care she needed.

Joycelyn was nearly two years old when she first arrived at the Operation Smile surgical programme in Tamale, Ghana. Abandoned by her mother because of her cleft lip and palate, and with a father who struggled to provide her with the love and care she needed, Joycelyn’s young life hung in the balance.

Urgent intervention and support

Like many children with untreated cleft conditions, Joycelyn had been struggling to feed. Her cleft lip and palate made it almost impossible for her to get the vital nutrients children need in their first months of life. By the time Operation Smile medical volunteers first examined her, Joycelyn was severely malnourished and had to be admitted to the paediatric ward for urgent care and nutritional support.

After five days in the paediatric ward, Joycelyn was discharged from hospital and enrolled on the nutrition programme at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. This programme would provide ongoing nutritional support, advice and supplements, to help Joycelyn get strong and healthy enough for surgery.

A smiling girl in a blue dress holds two photos, showcasing a child's transformative journey with cleft lip surgery in Ghana. The background is a textured wall with earthy tones.

Care that goes above and beyond

The team in Ghana became concerned when Joycelyn missed her first appointment with the nutrition team, and subsequent appointments after that. Patient Coordinator Clement, and other team members involved in Joycelyn’s care rang repeatedly to check on her, but were unable to encourage Joycelyn’s father to bring her to these vital appointments.

Clement was in touch with a lady called Cynthia, who knew Joycelyn’s family and had already voiced concerns about the child’s home life. Clement asked Cynthia to go and check on Joycelyn, which she did, and it soon became apparent that, for a number of reasons, Joycelyn wasn’t getting the appropriate level of care at home. With an absent mother and a father struggling to meet his obligations, something needed to change for Joycelyn.

A man and a young girl share a joyful moment on a wooden bench in Ghana. The man, wearing a blue T-shirt, holds a yellow candy while the girl, dressed in a light blue dress, laughs heartily. Trees and a blurred background add to their blissful scene. — Joycelyn playing with Patient Coordinator, Clement Ofosuhemeng outside the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Photo: Lorenzo Monacelli.

Hope for the future thanks to Cynthia

Thankfully, the love and kindness of one woman, Cynthia, was a lifeline for Joycelyn. After lengthy discussions with the family, and with the agreement of Joycelyn’s father, Cynthia decided to foster Joycelyn. She vowed to take care of the little girl and love her as if she was her own. Cynthia started to bring Joycelyn along to her monthly nutrition programme appointments, a 10-hour round trip, which she did without question or complaint. It was from this moment onwards that Joycelyn finally started to experience the unconditional love and care that every child deserves.

When the time came for Joycelyn to have surgery to repair her cleft lip, and later, her cleft palate, Cynthia started the process of formerly adopting Joycelyn. In the space of just a few short months, Joycelyn had a new smile, new hopes for the future, and a new mum too.

A woman smiles while holding a baby in the Philippines. Two children stand beside her; one holds a photo of a child with cleft lip. The group is against a textured wall. The woman is wearing a colorful striped top and patterned skirt, and the children are in casual attire. — A happy family at last – Joycelyn with her new siblings and new mum Cynthia in
Accra, Ghana. Photo: Lorenzo Monacelli.

‘We can’t even express our happiness’

We chatted to Cynthia outside the Korle Bu Teaching hospital. It was a sunny September afternoon and the local team had arranged for her to bring Joycelyn to meet us again. It was a joy to see her progress and to watch her playing with her new siblings – part of a loving, happy family.

Cynthia is still moved by what Operation Smile has done for haer adopted daughter and how the local team has been by their side from the beginning. She said, “I’ve come to know Operation Smile for a long time. I’ve been with them. We live happily. Everything they have been doing for us, we love it, we love it, we love it!”

When we asked her about how it felt to see Joycelyn’s new smile for the first time after surgery she said, “I was so glad and I was so happy to see my daughter’s life change. Everyone was enjoying, and everyone was very happy. In fact, we can’t even express our happiness. Everyone came from their houses to meet us with songs, melodies, and dancing. We did a lot that day. We were happy!”

Two children joyfully run on a paved surface in the Philippines, reaching for soap bubbles. The first child wears a light blue dress, and the second dons a white outfit with colorful designs. A covered parking area and buildings are visible in the background. — Joycelyn playing with her sister outside the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. Photo: Lorenzo Monacelli.

Ongoing support for as long as it’s needed

Joycelyn’s now having speech therapy, which is helping to improve her confidence yet further. It’s all part of the comprehensive cleft care offered by the team at Operation Smile Ghana. Thanks to their dedication, Cynthia’s love, and the kindness of people like you, Joycelyn’s future is bright and filled with the love and hope she so deserves.

Change a life today

Donate