Our patients from Antsirabe

A father and daughter’s journey: Zabe and Celvinah

When Zabe saw his daughter Celvinah for the first time, he was heartbroken. She was born with a cleft lip, just like him. He could already imagine how difficult life would be for her.

Zabe and his wife surrounded Celvinah with love. Thankfully their family and close community were also supportive. However, as Celvinah grew up and started school, she was bullied and mocked by some of the other students. Like any loving parent, Zabe felt sad and hopeless. He didn’t know where to turn for help.

Everything changed for the family when Celvinah was 12 years old. Listening to the radio, Zabe learned, with a surge of hope, that safe and free surgery was possible. Radio adverts are one of the methods Operation Smile Madagascar uses to reach new patients – particularly those in remote areas like Celvinah and Zabe.

Zabe wasted no time and called the number in the advert. He spoke with Mr Fidelis, a Patient Advocate for Operation Smile. Mr Fidelis immediately dispatched another community volunteer, who lived nearby, to meet with Zabe and Celvinah so they could be registered as new patients.

Since Celvinah and Zabe had both been living for years with untreated cleft conditions, the team in Madagascar prioritised their case. Mr Fidelis worked hard to ensure they could attend the next surgical programme. They’d waited long enough already.

The journey to the next surgical programme in Antsirabe took the family four days. Zabe and Celvinah were surprised and relieved to see the number of other people there with cleft conditions. For the first time, they felt a sense of belonging.

The long journey was followed by a rollercoaster of emotions. There was joy when Celvinah was cleared for surgery, but also disappointment when Zabe, unfortunately, wasn’t. Unfortunately this time there wasn’t enough space on the surgical schedule for him. But he was overjoyed for his daughter.

When Zabe saw Celvinah after surgery, he beamed. He couldn’t stop expressing his gratitude to the volunteers who cared for his daughter.  Zabe can now look towards his daughter’s bright new future with immense hope and pride. He also has the comfort of knowing it won’t be long before he too gets the new smile he’s always dreamed of.

An escape from isolation: Ethan’s story

Seraphine and her husband waited more than five long years before Ethan was born. At his birth, Seraphine’s happiness at finally holding her baby outweighed any concern about his cleft condition. Ethan was born with a cleft lip and palate, but hospital doctors assured the new parents that surgery could correct it.

Seraphine loved and cared deeply for her son. However, their family and the rural community in Madagascar were not so welcoming. After facing weeks of bullying and isolation, Ethan’s father made the difficult decision to leave Seraphine and the baby. He couldn’t take it any more.

Seraphine spent months alone, in complete isolation, caring for her baby. Yet, she never lost hope of finding help. Because Ethan couldn’t breastfeed properly, she took him to a local health clinic. There, a paediatrician explained how to feed Ethan and introduced Seraphine to Operation Smile.

Fabrice, one of Operation Smile’s patient advocates, registered Ethan and informed Seraphine about the upcoming surgical programme in Antsirabe. Their journey took 21 gruelling hours by bus. Upon arrival at the patient village, Seraphine was finally surrounded by support and acceptance.

Ethan had his medical evaluation, and all the while his face beamed with a wide, happy smile. Seraphine was overjoyed when she learned he would be receiving surgery that same week.

The first time Seraphine saw Ethan after surgery was a truly special moment. She couldn’t stop expressing to the nurses how beautiful her little boy looked. Her son’s transformation was more beautiful than she could have ever imagined. Seraphine can now look forward to returning home to their village. She knows everyone in their community will be amazed by Ethan’s new smile. They will now be free from stigma and isolation.

From fear to determination: Lahatriniavo’s story

Lahatriniavo is a bright, happy toddler with a big smile. His mum Marie Claire gazes at him with a look full of love. When Lahatriniavo was born with a cleft lip, Marie Claire was deeply saddened. However, the doctor assured her that surgery could correct her son’s condition.

Marie Claire’s family were supportive, but people in the community weren’t. Some even unfairly blamed Marie Claire for her son’s condition. Thankfully, her husband remained a pillar of strength, and together they showered Lahatriniavo with love and made sure that he could thrive regardless of his cleft.

When Lahatriniavo was 14 months old, during a routine visit to a local health centre for vitamins, Marie Claire met Felana, a patient advocate for Operation Smile. Felana explained that the organisation could provide Lahatriniavo with a free and safe surgery to repair his cleft condition.

A few weeks after registering, Marie Claire received the call for an upcoming surgical programme. The prospect of traveling for hours and meeting new people, especially foreigners, filled Marie Claire with anxiety. However, Felana’s unwavering support and assurances convinced Marie Claire to take Lahatriniavo to the programme in Antananarivo. There, Marie Claire and her son finally felt welcomed. She was relieved to meet other mothers who shared her worries and experiences.

Unfortunately, the family had to make this trip three times. The first time Lahatriniavo was malnourished and the second time he was poorly which meant he wasn’t well enough to be approved for surgery.

Their third attempt, in Antsirabe just seven months after meeting Felana, was finally Lahatriniavo’s moment. He received his life-changing surgery, and Marie Claire couldn’t have been happier to see her son’s new smile. Marie Claire is now determined to raise awareness about cleft conditions in her community and surrounding areas. She wants everyone to know that Operation Smile is a trustworthy organisation dedicated to helping children like Lahatriniavo.

A new life free from bullying: Claricia’s story

Mum Florette is a farmer and lives in a rural village in the north of Madagascar. When her first daughter, Claricia, was born, her life changed forever. But not as she expected. Claricia was born at home with a cleft lip and cleft palate. The nurse who helped deliver her didn’t recognise the condition. It was Florette’s mother, who had seen a child with a cleft before, who raised the alarm.

Cleft conditions were unheard of in their community and family. No one knew that surgery was an option. Florette endured immense suffering. Florette’s family ostracised her new baby, and they were mocked relentlessly by the local community. Claricia’s father also abandoned them, refusing any relationship.

But, Florette’s love for her daughter was unwavering. She took exceptional care of Claricia, ensuring her strength despite the challenges of breastfeeding. She held on to the hope that she could one day find help for Claricia.

One day, an Operation Smile volunteer arrived in their community, alerted by someone in a nearby village who’d heard about a child with a cleft. This encounter was the turning point. Florette finally learned that Claricia’s condition wasn’t a life sentence; their future held hope.

They were immediately registered with Operation Smile. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the lack of available cleft care in the country, delayed Clarissa’s surgery for two long years.

When finally, the wait was over. Florette and Claricia embarked on the long journey to an Operation Smile surgical programme in Antsirabe. The 20-hour trip was worth it though. They were welcomed warmly by other families and volunteers. Florette’s heart brimmed with joy when she saw Claricia’s new smile. Now, they could finally begin a new life, leaving behind the teasing and bullying.