At first glance, baby S looks like any other beautiful little girl. But behind her sweet smile lies a hidden challenge—she was born with a cleft palate, a gap in the roof of her mouth that didn’t close during pregnancy.
A cleft palate isn’t just a cosmetic issue. Left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications. Babies like S often struggle to feed properly because they can’t form a secure seal to suckle. Milk can leak into the nasal passages, causing coughing, choking, and increasing the risk of malnutrition or even death.
But thanks to your support, Baby S’s story is already changing.
In early 2025, she was enrolled in Operation Smile’s nutrition program in preparation for surgery as part of our first-ever Surgical Program in Tanzania. By the time she came in for her February check-up, her weight had reached a healthy level—a critical milestone before undergoing surgery.
The need in Tanzania is urgent. There’s a severe shortage of specialized surgical professionals, especially in rural communities. That’s why, in 2024, Operation Smile officially began work in the country—to bring life-changing care closer to families who need it most.
For Baby S’s parents, both farmers living hundreds of kilometres from the nearest major hospital, accessing surgery on their own would have been impossible. But with Operation Smile’s support, that barrier is disappearing.
Their hope is growing—and so is Baby S.
Thank you for helping create new beginnings, one smile at a time.
