Search    Resources    Stories

Giving a Mother Peace of Mind

Share this story

When baby Christine was born in central Zambia, her mother immediately noticed that something was wrong. She had seen cleft lips before and knew there were ways to repair them.

She first took her baby to a hospital nearby in Ndola, Zambia. Doctors there told her about Dr. Goran Jovic, our surgical outreach program director in Lusaka and the only plastic surgeon practicing in Zambia.

She would have to wait until Christine was the appropriate age, however. Our policy is that a child needs to be at least three months old to undergo cleft lip surgery. When the time came, Christine and her mother traveled on a bus for more than five hours to get to the hospital in Lusaka.

Goran soon operated to repair baby Christine’s lip. The procedure went well, and baby and mother were sent home the very next day.

Her mother now has the peace of mind to know that baby Christine will not grow up to be shunned, teased or denied an education because of her appearance or a speech impediment.

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!