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Something to Smile About

Cleft Lip & Palate Surgeries Offer Hope and Healing

By Compelling Story

Since 2011, Samaritan’s Purse has been offering an annual round of cleft lip surgeries in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. More than 260 lips have been repaired and, in 2014, the first two cleft palate surgeries were performed. Not only do the free-of-charge surgeries improve patients’ health, they open up new opportunities for them in society.

Back the Life They Deserve

Each year’s medical team, flown in from around the world, comes with one goal: to offer healing, both physical and spiritual, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Dr. Tom Boeve (above), who has served all four years with the program, says, “We’re being His hands and feet the way we’ve been asked to be, to help these people get back the life they deserve.”

To many in South Sudan, a baby born with a cleft lip is an evil omen, a frightening sign of divine or demonic punishment. When patients arrive at the hospital, they share similar stories of shame, embarrassment, ostracism, and limited opportunities. Older adults tell of being shunned for decades. The mothers who bring infants for surgery speak of abuse aimed at them—“How could you give birth to such an ugly child?”

Leudina suffered the derision of society for 37 years.

Leudina’s Story

Leudina (above) suffered the derision of society for 37 years. “When I’m passing by, people tend to laugh at me, mock me.” In 2013, her son and her nephew’s son received cleft lip surgery through Samaritan’s Purse. After their repairs, she said “they were accepted fully into society.” In 2014, it was her turn. Her surgery was successful, and she was filled with gratitude to God and the medical team who treated her.“I thank God He has given them the knowledge to help people like us.”

Approximately one in 700 children worldwide are born with a cleft lip, cleft palate, or both. These are among the most common birth defects and affect people in all countries among all ethnic backgrounds. They occur because the lips or palate do not come together properly during pregnancy, but the actual cause is unclear to modern medicine. While there is no reason to believe that cleft lips and palates are more prevalent in South Sudan than other places, it is certain that those born in the country have almost no access to proper reparative surgery. Poverty, lack of transportation, and extremely limited medical capacity prevent most from getting the help they need. That’s why Samaritan’s Purse has stepped in.

A Team Effort

God brings together an amazing team of experienced medical professionals (surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, etc.) every year to perform the surgeries. Each operation usually takes about an hour or less, and the team works long hours each day for a week to help as many patients as possible.

“It’s an opportunity to to step in and in 45 minutes allow a young person, a child, an adult to integrate back into their society,” said Dr. Tom Boeve. “For me, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

The circumstances the team must operate under are not for the faint of heart. Everything has to be brought in—the medicines, the equipment, the tables, the scrubs. The operating theaters are spartan. Months of planning go into each round of surgeries, but, as everyone knows who’s ever served overseas, sometimes plans changes, even at the last minute.

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good steward of the manifold grace of God.” —1 Peter 4:10, NKJV

Waking Up to a New Look

Patients usually wake up an hour or so after surgery. Older children and adults are given a mirror to admire their new smiles.

“There’s an immediate improvement in appearance,” says Dr. Jim Wade, one of the surgeons.

Each patient and their caretaker spend one night in our recovery ward, occasionally two, and then head home. Though their lips will remain puffy for weeks, the healing process is relatively easy. The patients or their parents/guardians are given instructions and medicine to deal with most circumstances.

New Names, New Lives

Samaritan’s Purse partners with local pastors and evangelists who serve as chaplains during surgery week. “We come here because we have an opportunity to minister to the patients and caretakers—an opportunity to lead them to Christ,” said Pastor Robert George Nathana (standing in prayer, above). “Medicine is a powerful tool to reach the people.”

One of the most important ways the chaplains minister to patients and their families is by providing a renaming ceremony. Many of the children are named “Machiek” or similar, which means “deformed.” Some also go by names that imply they are useless or ugly. Before they return home, patients with such names are prayed over and given new biblical names.

Beneficiaries understand that Samaritan’s Purse is acting under the banner of Christ, and local chaplains are faithful to share the Gospel with them. In fact, the entire team is focused on showing the love of God in action. Every person operated on, every person treated for malaria, every person who entered the clinic is treated with compassion and concern.

Using the DC-3, they conduct no-fee flights that transport many patients from remote areas.

Flights of Hope and Healing

Our Mission Aviation Services-East Africa team plays a crucial role in the cleft lip and palate surgery program. Using the DC-3 (above) or other planes in our fleet, they conduct no-fee flights that transport many patients from remote areas to Juba’s teaching hospital and back home again. South Sudan has hardly any good roads; transportation when available is prohibitively expensive for the majority of people; and numerous areas are too dangerous to travel through anyway because of ongoing ethno-political violence. For many patients, this is the first time they have ever flown on an airplane, and if a plane were not available to take them to the surgeries, they would have no other options.

Finding A smile and so Much More

Following his surgery, 8-year-old Yohannes took a moment to share a grin with pediatrician Dr. Cody Carpenter. The boy had been treated cruelly by other children all his life, but looks forward to a better future: “When I appear before them, they will think I’m a nice person and will never more abuse me.”

Cleft lip and palate patients in South Sudan are given so much more than a smile. After their surgery, they talk of returning home to a “normal” life—which means simply that they will be integrated into society. Friends who shunned them will play soccer with them and eat with them. They can return to school, knowing no one will mock them. They should no longer be plagued by infections and colds. The future is wide open to them.

“We are, against all odds, bringing hope and transformation,” said Karen Daniels, cleft lip and palate surgery program manager. “And that’s the story of what Jesus has done for us as well.”