Nairobi, Kenya: August 13-22
On each Operation Smile mission, each patient brings with them their personal story. Some may be longer than others, but all important to themselves and to the volunteers. This particular story exemplifies the network of Operation Smile through its volunteers and the dedication they have for helping others. This story also illustrates how a volunteer is always a volunteer even when they are not on a mission. They are always doing what they can no matter where they are.
This short story is about Nozantui Lempoyio, a 23 year old Maasai woman in Kenya who was born with a unilateral cleft lip. Unknown to many, Nozantui’s story with Operation Smile didn’t just start from the time she arrived at Kenyatta National Hospital, or from the time she left her village five hours away in the Maasai Mara, but rather it started almost two years ago on a previous Operation Smile mission.
It started after Susan Craig’s fourth mission as medical records volunteer in Nairobi, Kenya. After the Operation Smile mission, she joined many of her fellow volunteers on safari in the Maasai Mara. Here, Susan befriended Nick and Elizabeth Cowell, two lifetime residents of the Mara and who own the Wildlife Conservation Trust in the area. The Cowell’s and Susan became close friends and Susan’s family returned to the Cowell’s conservation camp.
The Cowell’s Wildlife Conservation Trust focuses both on wildlife conservation as well as cultural conservation in the Mara where they create local controlled ownership and responsibilities for the surrounding local Maasai villages. The focus of the cultural aspect is to empower the ownership of local woman’s communities through their own livestock, eco tourism activities and traditional Maasai crafts.
Over a year after Susan Craig’s visit, Nozantui became involved with the local woman’s community. This is a minor miracle in itself because the Maasai community is very protective and shelters members with deformities. In Nozantui’s case, her deformity was evident.
After meeting Nozantui, Elizabeth Cowell realized that this was something that Operation Smile could help with. The Cowell’s quickly contacted their good friend Susan Craig in Florida for her help. Susan, being a veteran volunteer had the current numbers for the program coordinators in Norfolk and got in touch with the office.
Without hesitation, Operation Smile’s network had the Cowell’s in touch with Diana Gathiga, the coordinator in Kenya. Diana explained that the best option for Nozantui, would be to come to the next Nairobi mission. Before she could go, Nozantui asked both her husband and village if she could have this surgery and both agreed to let her go.
Nozantui traveled with the Cowell’s, Helen, a Maasai translator, and her young child to the first day of screening. This was Nozantui’s first trip outside of her village, and her first trip to any city. It was evident she was culture shocked. She arrived bright eyed and overwhelmed.
Operation Smile’s medical team escorted Nozantui through the screening process and evaluated her. Luckily Nozantui’s was in good health and the team decided to schedule her for the first day of surgery. After waiting patiently all day, Nozantui was ready to enter the operating room. The procedure was successfully performed by local Kenyan plastic surgeon Ferdinand Nangole.
After waking up in the recovery room, Nozantui could barely recognize herself in the mirror. Her surgery results came out beautifully! It was a touching moment to see all of the Operation Smile team and Nozantui’s friends see her for the first time with a complete smile.
Nozantui was discharged the next day and was excited to show her husband and village her new smile. After a warm embrace from the ward nurses and team, Nozantui left the hospital to head back to her new life. Meanwhile, back in Florida, Susan Craig was waiting patiently for the news. She was unsure whether Nozantui was selected for surgery and knew nothing.
A few days passed and she still hadn’t received any news. Right when Susan couldn’t take it anymore, she received an email from the Cowell’s Thursday morning. The email explained that Nozantui had safely gone through her surgery and is starting her new life with her new smile. Susan was overcome with emotion from seeing the before and after pictures and to know that things had gone as she had wished.
Operation Smile provides thousands of new lives to people through simple surgeries every year. But what is important is that none of this could happen without the dedication of our volunteers. It was amazing for me to see that our volunteers are volunteers for life. No matter where or when, these amazing people will do what they can to help others. They are the heroes.
- George Yarbrough, Regional Programs Manager, Central
Since 1987, Operation Smile medical volunteers have provided more than 13,000 Kenyan children with free physical examinations and more than 6,850 have received life-changing surgery during international medical missions.
First international mission: 1987
International mission sites: Eldoret, Kisumu, Meru, Mombasa, Nairobi and Nakuru
Local mission sites: Meru, Nairobi and Nyeri
