Behind every #surgery is a #nurse making care possible. From preparing patients for surgery to supporting recovery, they play a critical role in delivering safe, high-quality care across every stage of the patient journey.
Nurses like Florence Mangula, known by her colleagues as “Mama Africa,” bring this impact to life. A longtime volunteer from Kenya, she has supported surgical care across Africa for more than 30 years. Working in the post-anesthesia care unit, she monitors patients as they recover from surgery and ensures they are stable, comforting children and reassuring families. Beyond patient care, she also mentors fellow healthcare providers, helping build stronger surgical teams and more sustainable health systems.
To all our nurse volunteers, thank you for your compassion, dedication to our patients and your continued commitment to training and mentorship. Through #Operation100, we’re investing in the education and support healthcare providers like nurses need to expand access to essential surgery, creating a lasting impact on the lives of children and families around the world.
On #InternationalDayofFamilies, and every day, we recognize the important role families play in a child’s health and well-being. When a child is born with a cleft condition, the journey to care often begins with a parent or caregiver seeking answers, support and access to care.
At Operation Smile, that journey is one we take together. From screening to surgery and beyond, the care we provide is designed to support not only the patient, but also their family, helping everyone feel safe and supported at every stage. When families are equipped with the knowledge and resources they need, children can grow stronger, healthier and more confident.
Every child’s path to care is shaped by the people who stand beside them. Today is a moment to recognize the families whose support helps make that journey possible.
When Francis was born, his parents had never seen a cleft condition before and were unsure what it would mean for their family. A nurse explained that surgery was possible, but because of the stigma surrounding cleft conditions, the family was encouraged to keep his condition private.
During a visit to Ashanti Regional Hospital, Francis’s father learned about Operation Smile #Ghana and connected with the team for patient registration. Two months later, the family traveled to Koforidua for a surgical program — the first time they saw other families with #cleft conditions.
After a comprehensive health screening, Francis was cleared for #surgery. His father said learning Francis was on the surgical schedule made him so happy.
Before surgery, Francis rarely left home and his cleft condition was hidden from their community. Today, he spends his time outside making friends and playing his favorite sport, soccer.
Learn how you can help Operation Smile reach more patients like Francis by visiting the link in our bio. 🔗
Parents are determined to ensure that their children have the best possible opportunities in life. The parents of Adolphe, Joyce and Dahn are shining examples of the strength of parental love.
In #Rwanda, Adolphe’s father works transporting goods by bike – a tough and dangerous job because of the hilly landscape and heavy traffic. It’s the same bike that he used to carry Adolphe and Adolphe's mom, Nikuze, to our screening site to ensure Adolphe received the #cleft #surgery he needed.
Joyce’s mom went from seeking care for Joyce’s cleft condition to becoming a psychosocial care provider for Operation Smile #Madagascar. “For the good of our children, we have to be strong. Give them the chance to have a better life,” she now advises other parents.
After learning about Operation Smile #Vietnam, Danh’s parents made the 60-mile trip to our surgical program, only to learn that Danh had a fever and couldn’t undergo safe surgery. Four months later, his mother, Ai, traveled with Danh to another Operation Smile surgical program to finally get the care he needed.
Learn how you can help more patients by visiting the link in our bio.
#Resilience #Strong #SwipeforSmiles
This International Nurses Day, we celebrate the incredible #nurses around the world whose dedication, skill, and kindness make our work possible. From supporting #cleft care to providing comfort and hope to those in need, nurses are at the heart of every patient journey. 💙
#InternationalNursesDay #ThankYouNurses
At Operation Smile, #bubbles do more than bring joy. For children born with #cleft conditions, bubbles can help ease nerves before surgery, support speech therapy and bring moments of joy during recovery. From helping kids practice breath control to creating playful connections, even the simplest tools can make a lasting impact throughout a patient’s journey.
Learn more about how bubbles support patients from surgery through recovery by visiting the link in our bio.
Meet Nancy and her son, Samuel, who was born with a #cleft lip. From the moment she learned about his condition, Nancy was determined to find the care he needed.
At just 6 months old, Samuel and Nancy made the seven-hour trip from their home in Izabal to our surgical program at the Petén Regional Hospital in #Guatemala. It wasn’t easy handing her baby over for #surgery, but Nancy felt the compassion and reassurance of a team that cared for them like family.
In the Petén Regional Hospital, Nancy found more than the surgical care Samuel needed; she found kindness, understanding and hope. And when Samuel received his surgery, it marked the start of a new chapter filled with joy and possibility.
Through Operation 100, we’re working to make this journey shorter and easier for families — bringing care closer to home so children like Samuel don’t have to travel so far for the care they deserve.
Together with our volunteers, partners and supporters, we’re building healthier futures for children, families and communities everywhere.
#MothersDay #StrongMoms
Every #mother dreams of a healthy future for her child. For Hessy, that hope was tested as she managed gestational diabetes and hypothyroidism while preparing for a baby with a #cleft condition.
After an emergency C-section in Comayagüela, Honduras, Hessy and her family received support to navigate Angely’s diagnosis. Just before her first birthday, Angely received cleft surgery at a partner hospital in Tegucigalpa.
Hessy’s and Angely’s scars are badges of hope — symbols of care, resilience and the brighter future made possible through safe surgery. This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the hope carried by mothers like Hessy and the community that helps turn hope into reality. Stories like this show the impact of Operation 100, bringing care closer to home for children and their families.
Learn more at our link in bio.
When Erica learned her daughter, Isis, was born with a #cleft lip and palate, she felt overwhelmed and unsure what the future would look like. Although she understood what a cleft was, she had never seen what it could mean for a child and family day to day.
Everything changed when Erica discovered that @operacaosorriso was holding a surgical program in Mossoró, #Brazil. From the moment they arrived, she and Isis were met with warmth, compassion and genuine care that made them feel supported every step of the way.
When Isis was approved for #surgery, Erica felt a wave of joy and hope, the kind of happiness she remembered from the day she found out she was pregnant. This procedure is an important first step in Isis’s care journey, which will continue as she grows, helping open the door to a brighter future.
Through the generosity of our supporters and the dedication of our medical volunteers, children like Isis can access safe, high-quality cleft and comprehensive care. For Erica, that means the chance for Isis to grow up smiling with confidence, without fear of being judged or bullied.
#MothersDay #StrongMoms
It's #FromtheField Friday! Today, we are proud to bring you an update on the care we recently provided in #Mozambique.
Last month, Operation Smile Mozambique held surgical program in Nampula. Thanks to your support and more than 30 volunteers, this program provided 31 comprehensive health evaluations and 20 life-changing surgeries.
#surgery #cleft #comprehensivecare
Eden Rose and Eugene’s joy at the birth of their first child quickly turned to concern when their daughter, Jinden, was born with a #cleft condition. Though they had seen people with cleft conditions before, they never imagined it would happen to their own child.
They leaned on family and hospital staff for support. Nurses reassured them that surgery was possible and advised them to check their local health center for additional details. After contacting several organizations, Eden Rose learned about @opsmilephil on Facebook. A few months later, she saw news of an upcoming surgical program in Silay.
The family traveled to the surgical program, anxious but hopeful. After Jinden’s evaluation, they waited to learn whether she was cleared for #surgery. And finally, the message they had been hoping for came, Jinden was scheduled for surgery on the third day of the program.
Jinden’s surgery was successful, and after 24 hours in the hospital, she returned home with her family.
Before leaving, Eden Rose personally thanked the doctors, nurses and volunteers who cared for her daughter. Her wish — to see Jinden’s new smile before her second birthday — had come true.
Learn how you can help more children like Jinden by visiting the link in our bio.
Happy #InternationalBubbleBlowing Day!
You can often find #bubbles at Operation Smile's programs. Bubbles bring joy to patients with #cleft conditions waiting for #surgery and are used as a tool during #speech therapy.
Learn more about Operation Smile's work and the comprehensive care we provide at our link in bio.
