BRIGHT SMILES OF HOPE AT LAST FOR YOUNG PATIENTS

A PAROW mother has praised the medical team and the Smile Foundation after her 16-month-old son, Stephen, born with a cleft lip, underwent successful reconstructive surgery.

- STAFF REPORTER

STEPHEN Williams, 16 months, from Parow is one of four patients for cleft, lip and palate repair surgery. With him is his mom Chantelle Swart.

(IAN LANDSBERG Independent Newspapers)

Stephen was one of three children who received reconstructive surgery at Tygerberg Hospital as part of the Smile Slate initiative, hosted by the Smile Foundation together with Milky Lane.

A Smile Slate is an initiative by the Smile Foundation that provides life-changing surgeries for children with facial anomalies like cleft lip and palate, craniofacial abnormalities and severe burn scarring.

For the Smile Foundation, each Smile Slate is a “reminder that medical care is not a privilege, it is a lifeline”.

Leading the surgical team was Dr Mosadi Mahoko, plastic consultant at Tygerberg Hospital, supported by registrar Dr Kirthi Ramdhani. Dr Mahoko has dedicated much of her career to improving access to reconstructive surgery for children in the public health system, and is known for her patient-centred approach and calm, reassuring presence in theatre. Her hands have helped restore not only smiles, but childhoods.