Beaming with Joy!

Honoré was born in Madagascar with a cleft lip and cleft palate to caring parents who wanted nothing but the best for him. “Children were afraid of him,” his mother, Eclaire, recalls emotionally. “He would play alone because others thought his cleft lip could be contagious.”

Eclaire first brought Honoré to an Operation Smile surgical program in 2019. Unfortunately, Honoré was underweight and malnourished. A staggering 55% of children under five in Madagascar experience stunted growth. This sadly meant Honoré was too weak to undergo surgery. Instead, partners like you ensured he could be enrolled in Operation Smile’s Nutrition Program in Madagascar.

The Nutrition Program delivers vital supplies, including food packages of rice, beans, milk, and oil, to those hit hardest by the pandemic in Madagascar. Eclaire and her husband were among them as they both lost their jobs. Eclaire had turned to selling bananas and bread in the community to try and make ends meet. Operation Smile’s Nutrition Program provided Honoré and his parents with the lifeline they needed.

4,573 Patients received nutritional consultations and our nutritional packages

Nutritional Consultations Provided

FY20

2,838

FY21

3,901

FY22

4,573

61% Increase since FY20

When surgical programs resumed in the spring of 2022, Honoré was well nourished and in good health. He passed his medical evaluations and was scheduled for his life-transforming cleft surgery. “His life has completely changed,” Eclaire shares joyfully.

Eclaire says the wait was more than worth it. “Honoré is famous in our village now,” she laughs. “He looks beautiful. Our family and neighbours were beaming with joy to see him. They couldn’t believe he was the same child.” Eclaire knows that Honoré’s new smile changes his future for the better – ensuring people will treat him with the kindness he deserves.

Today, six-year-old Honoré is patiently waiting for his next surgery to repair his cleft palate. He dreams of being a schoolteacher when he grows up and is excited to be able to speak more clearly following his cleft palate surgery and speech therapy as part of our comprehensive cleft care.

In the meantime, the young boy’s smile says it all. Honoré’s enthusiasm and appreciation for life radiate through his stunning new smile – a gift made possible by Operation Smile partners like you