From Nutrition Support to Surgery: Farida’s Journey to Care in Ghana

When Farida was born with a cleft, Alimatu did not know what had caused it or what the future would hold. Her daughter’s cleft condition had not been detected during pregnancy, and their family had no previous experience with cleft conditions.

At the hospital, staff showed Alimatu photographs of children before and after cleft surgery. Seeing the images brought Alimatu comfort and helped her understand that surgery was possible, giving her a clearer path forward for her daughter. They connected her with the Operation Smile team, who assisted Alimatu with the next steps for Farida’s medical care.

Finding a Path to Care

After her first appointment, Alimatu felt reassured. She was happy to entrust Farida’s care to Operation Smile Ghana and began bringing her daughter to the organization’s nutrition program as she prepared for surgery.

Because Farida needed to gain enough weight to safely undergo surgery, nutrition became an important part of her care journey. The support was especially meaningful for Alimatu because she could not afford the nutritional supplements her daughter needed on her own. Through Operation Smile’s nutrition program, Farida received supplements and guidance at no cost to her family.

Each month, Alimatu made the 45-minute bus journey from their home to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital with Farida. There, the team monitored Farida’s growth and helped prepare the family for her surgery.

Month by month, Farida grew stronger. At 6 months old, she reached the required weight and was ready for surgery.

A Mother’s Anxious Wait

In September 2023, Farida arrived at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for her surgery.

Even as she waited for her pre-surgery health checks, Farida remained bright and cheerful. She smiled and giggled her way through her examinations, bringing joy to the medical volunteers and everyone around her.

Once the team confirmed that Farida was healthy enough for surgery, her long-awaited procedure could move forward. Although Alimatu had come to trust the Operation Smile Ghana team, watching her daughter enter the operating room still brought a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.

While Farida was in surgery, Alimatu waited alongside other parents whose children were receiving care. Their shared experience offered comfort during a moment filled with uncertainty.

When Alimatu saw Farida in the recovery room, she was overjoyed. Her daughter looked different, and when the bandage was removed, Alimatu was amazed to see her new smile. By the following day, Farida was back to her usual bubbly self, smiling and bringing the same joy to those around her.

Bringing Farida Home

After surgery, Alimatu could not wait to take Farida home and show her husband, family and friends how much her daughter had changed.

Before Farida received care, Alimatu had been cautious about exposing her daughter to the wider community. She knew that some people had made hurtful comments about Farida, even if they had never said them directly to her. Now, after seeing her daughter go through surgery and receive the support she needed, Alimatu felt hopeful about bringing Farida home.

She was grateful for the care that had supported her family along the way, from the nutrition program that helped Farida become healthy enough for surgery to the team that guided them through each step of her journey.

“Thank you so much for everything Operation Smile has done for us. I could have never been able to afford the surgery. Now I am so happy for my daughter!”

With Farida’s surgery behind them, Alimatu is looking ahead to the life she hopes her daughter will have. She wants Farida to grow up healthy, attend school and have the opportunity to choose her own path. Perhaps one day, she says, Farida may become a nurse or a doctor and help others, just as Operation Smile helped her.

For Alimatu, a journey that began with uncertainty has led to a hopeful new chapter for her daughter. With Farida’s surgery behind them, she can look ahead to the future she has always imagined for her daughter.