Search    Resources    Stories

Chrispine and Mwate: Crossing the Border for Hope

Share this story

Determined to do the best they could for their babies, mothers Bella and Mwanga banded together for a life-changing journey. Their daughters, 6-month-old Chrispine (pictured at left) and 3-month-old Mwate (on right after surgery), were both born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last year with clefts. Chrispine had a cleft lip and palate, while Mwate had a cleft lip.

The mothers heard about ReSurge’s services in neighboring Zambia from a local physician and decided the futures of their babies depended on getting them surgery. Their travels began in the DRC, 12 hours from the Zambian-Congo border, where they traveled by bus to get to Mission Hospital in the northwestern tip of Zambia.

ReSurge Surgical Outreach Director Dr. Goran Jovic is the only reconstructive plastic surgeon in Zambia and helps hundreds of children like Chrispine and Mwate every year.

He was able to complete both girls’ surgeries, enabling these young babies to lead healthier and more normal lives as they grow up.

ReSurge’s work with cleft patients in Zambia is bringing hope to families like these throughout the region.

Share this story

Recent Stories

Dr. Vinita Puri - KEM Hospital Mumbai, India

Dr. Vinita Puri is Mending Lives

Dr. Vinita Puri is a true humanitarian. She is a professor and the head of the plastic and reconstructive surgery department at KEM hospital in Mumbai, India, and has been...

Read More

We are grateful for our opportunity to touch the lives of those needing surgical treatment worldwide and grow sustainable systems for local surgical teams in low-income countries. However, we cannot make an impact without your support. Donate today to create a ripple effect that changes the world through life-changing, no-cost reconstructive surgeries.

Jacob Youssef Samuel - Burn Survivor

Last Chance To Give in 2023!

Any gift made before Jan 1 is doubled with a 2x match!

Jacob Youssef Samuel - Burn Survivor

Make Your Year-End Gift

Join us in transforming lives through reconstructive surgical care.
Any gift made before Jan. 1st is doubled with a 2X match!