10 children to undergo facial reconstructive surgeries

TEN children affected by facial deformities – including cleft lip and cleft palates, as well as by severe burns – will undergo life-changing reconstructive surgery at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital next week in commemoration of Smile Week.

The operations, whose costs are sponsored by pharmaceutical company Adcock Ingram, will be conducted by plastic and reconstructive surgeons from South African academic hospitals, of which the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital is one.

Smile Foundation operations executive director Moira Gerszt, explained that one of the 10 children, Chrissie, was severely burnt playing in a neighbour’s backyard in 2017.

“His cousin went into a shed on the property in Mpumalanga and poured oil on the fire.

“Chrissie was very badly burnt, but the cousin was unhurt.

“His mom was at work at the time, and when she saw her son she was devastated and thought he would never survive,” said Gerszt.

Chrissie sustained severe burns to his chest, back, arms and head.

The boy was taken to two hospitals before he was transferred to Red Cross, where he was in the ICU from December 2017 until March last year.

“That’s how severe his burns were,” Gerszt said.

She said Chrissie’s mother was amazed at the progress he has made.

Smile Foundation marketing manager Toni Jabour said their NPO brought people together to provide expert surgical intervention and pre- and post-operative care for the beneficiaries of surgical operations.

The NPO is committed to making a difference in the lives of South African children living with treatable facial conditions such as facial paralysis, cleft lip, cleft palate, ear and nose conditions, craniofacial abnormalities and burn wounds, Jabour said.

“Beyond the costs of the patient’s surgery and recovery, we also invest in the infrastructure of the public healthcare system through the purchase of medical equipment, upgrading of existing facilities for the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the implementation of skills development programmes for surgeons, nurses and other medical personnel.

“To date we have assisted over 3500 children. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of children living in South Africa.”