100 Smiles in 100 Days

Niraj and his wife Nilam were shocked to learn their growing baby had a cleft lip during a routine ultrasound. At their home in Lakhimpur, Assam, the couple spent weeks worried and wondering how to care for
a baby with this condition. The first time when they heard about it in the hospital waiting area, they were shocked. They anxiously awaited the birth of their first child. However, they knew this baby would suffer more with a more complicated condition.

Their son Harsh was born with a severe case of cleft lip. Once the initial relief wore off, the reality began to sink in. Their son was different. After birth, the deformity causes issues with feeding, eating, breathing; this makes it challenging to breastfeed or drink from a bottle. But local doctors help us with feeding techniques. But fortunately, everyone behaved normally, and they got support from neighbours as well. They always pampered and played with him.

Harsh’s parents are unaware of the particular cause. They didn’t know the scientific reason, but they thought there may be some lack of care during the pregnancy period. Harsh’s father had a small business, being in which they can not even imagine being able to afford the treatment. But their family and relatives were supportive; they gave them hope that it’s just a deformity, no need to worry, and can be healed. For baby’s treatment, they went to NHM, Assam, and from there, they got to know about Mission Smile, which provides free cleft lip and palate treatment and surgeries. They were so excited about the surgery and were very hopeful towards Mission Smile.

He had his first surgery at only 10 months old. Surgeons repaired his lip, and after the surgery, it looked so good. The experienced and knowledgeable team helped the parents in preparing for the surgery of the child. Mission Smile will do everything we can to do for the baby’s cleft surgery because we believe in doing what we can, where we are, with what we have. Our team encourages you to do a random act of kindness for children so that when they grow up, they can live a blessed and compassionate life as well. We thank our volunteers and donors who came forward to make it possible to give magical smiles to children suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate.

Dear Donors.

Greetings!

We would like to thank each one of you to help us change the lives of 100 cleft kids. 

Sarvanan is a ten-year-old boy of a needy family who lives in a village in the kalakuruchi district of Tamil Nadu. He is the fourth of the seven children of his family. He studies in class four. The boy is courageous and studious. He got admitted to the school all by himself. Three of his other siblings have died due to malnourishment and unknown reasons.

Eventually, Sarvanan had cleft lips since his birth. Sarvanan’s parents never even thought of rectifying the cleft when he was a little boy because his superstitious father considered the cleft to be a cause of blessing for the family. Also, with a meagre income of a wage labourer in the crop fields, the parents couldn’t avail the rectification for Sarvanan’s cleft lip. They could not bear the cost of the rectification. Added to the abject poverty, Sarvanan’s parents have their difficulties too. The mother has a hearing problem and can not attend to the children properly. Also, the father drinks too much alcohol and is little concerned about his children’s progress. Read More at https://missionsmile.org/a-responsible-brother/

Past year hit us covid and we were able to provide 800+ surgeries. We are gaining momentum and with help from you we can surely achieve our targets of 3500+ surgeries this current year. 

We that you again for supporting us. 

Thanks

Priyankit

Covid 19 has been challenging for all of us! We hope to overcome this soon with support from everyone!

This pandemic has affected cleft children as they are more susceptible to viruses, malnourished, and at higher risk than the average children. 

We are currently in testing waters and the world is coming together to help each other to overcome this pandemic. Cleft children need your help more than ever! We are continuing through our work changing the lives of these children, We request you to help us reach more and more children!

We are continuing our project and aiming to provide 100 more surgeries in the coming months! Please generously support us1

Help us reach out to maximum people!

Sharing story of one such child who was gifted with a new smile. 

Pathan is the 2nd child of Salman and Aisha daily laborers in a small village in India. With your support, we were able to operate Pathan and repair his cleft lip as early as 7months from birth.  Parents believe treating him early will surely help their child to be as normal as other children and he will be saved all trauma and harassment faced by a cleft child in Schools and society here. They said they want their kid to study and become an officer. On asked Officer were, His father replied with a smile that Only officer is good for them. Laughs!

We again thank you for supporting us. 

Thanks

Eman’s birth brought immense joy to his parents but when they saw his face they felt their hearts drop. His beautiful face had been marred by a cleft lip. The new parents were worried how their family would react.

Eman’s extended family, however, were surprisingly welcoming. His grandmother consoled his parents saying that God does not make any one perfect; He always sends us with some flaws so that we remain humble. Eman’s parents were relieved upon hearing this. The community at large also welcomed the child, and many of them even offered home-remedy tips to his mother to fix his lips. She tried several of them, before she realised that nothing was going to fix her child’s face unless God Himself wished it. Even though everyone welcomed the child, she feared for his acceptance once he grew up and started attending school and prayed daily for a miracle.

Her prayers were answered   when she found out about the free surgery and cleft care offered by Mission Smile. She travelled more than 100kms to bring her child to us. Upon arrival Eman was examined and selected for surgery. Post surgery, his mother was very happy with her baby’s transformation and she thanked God for sending Mission Smile to work this miracle in their life.