In Honor of Mother’s Day: 5 Women Who Inspire Us with Their Resilience and Strength 

Here at Operation Smile we meet heroes all the time: surgeons who take time to train the next generation of doctors in their communities, nurses who help families feel calm while awaiting post procedure news about a loved one, volunteers who always know how to bring out the smiles in our patients.  But no one inspires us more than the brave, determined and strong parents who seek care for their children. Facing barriers like distance, cost and limited access to care, they never give up on their children’s chance at a healthier future. 

In honor of Mother’s Day, we are looking back at five resilient mothers we’ve met — biological, adoptive and chosen — who have navigated challenges, made sacrifices and stood as pillars of unconditional love and strength for their children and families. They play an essential role in their children’s journeys toward brighter, healthier futures and inspire us all to be more resilient.   

Throughout their journey as care givers for children with cleft conditions, Operation Smile provides crucial support, much of it specifically for mothers — from psychosocial care to breastfeeding workshops to support groups and more. And in turn, we learn from them every day.  

Here are some of their stories and messages of hope. 

Francisca, Mateo’s Mother

When she was about four months pregnant, Francisca received the news that her baby was going to be born with a cleft lip. Even though this is more common than people realize —  a child is born with a cleft condition every three minutes — learning about the condition can be worrisome for parents. “I felt sad even though people told me the younger he was the better opportunity for surgical care,” recalls Francisca. “But it’s still surgery, and it’s hard not to think about everything they will suffer.” 

When Francisca heard about the opportunity to have her son Mateo evaluated for possible cleft surgery free of cost at Operation Smile’s surgical program in Puebla, Mexico, she knew they had to make the journey, even though it is a long trip. “It’s hard to find availability during the week due to work,” she said. Once arriving at the hospital, there is no guarantee that a child will be able to receive care at that time. Doctors look at patients’ whole health to determine if it is the right time for a surgical procedure. “You have to take [the decision] well, whether it is a yes or no.” 

Thankfully for Francisca, her journey with Mateo was a fruitful one, and he was able to receive care immediately. “Hello, my baby,” said Francisca when she was handed her baby wrapped in blankets after his procedure. Happy tears streamed down her face.  “This is our first Christmas with his new smile.”  

See Francisca and Mateo’s journey. 

Nikuze, Adolphe’s Mother

Like every parent thinking about their baby’s future, Nikuze has a basic wish for her first-born son, Adolphe. “I want my child to have the best life possible, and I want to do whatever it takes to help him achieve that life,” she says.  

Born in the northwestern corner of Rwanda, Adolphe bubbles with energy, and his big eyes don’t miss a thing, taking in faces and colors that surround him. But immediately after his birth, his mother was filled with concern. “As soon as my doctor held him, he immediately told me your child has been born with a cleft lip,” recalls Nikuze. “They told me that my child may have difficulty eating, drinking or smiling.” 

At Ruhengeri Referral Hospital, one of Operation Smile’s partner hospitals in the region, Adolphe and his parents met Dr. Ntirenganya. After a careful medical screening to ensure the surgery would be safe for Adolphe, he was able to receive care. 

“I cannot thank our doctor enough because what they did is a gift. Our child is now going to be able to eat, drink and laugh without a problem,” says Nikuze.  

Discover Nikuke and Aldophe’s story. 

Nina, Joyce’s Mother

When Joyce was born at a hospital in Madagascar, the midwife told her mother, Nina, “It’s a girl.” “I was so excited,” Joyce recalls. “Then she said, ‘She has a little problem on her lip.’”  At the time, Nina didn’t know much about cleft conditions or what they meant for her daughter’s future. She worried about how Joyce would grow, eat and speak. But soon, she found support from friends who introduced her to Operation Smile. 

From being a mother seeking help for her own child to becoming a psychosocial care provider with Operation Smile, she now provides psychosocial support to other families. To parents of children with a cleft, Nina’s message is clear: have hope.  

“But for the good of our children, we have to be strong. Give them the chance to have a better life,” she advises. “Don’t let fear stop you from doing what’s best for them.” 

Ai, Danh’s Mother

When Danh was born in Vietnam, his mother, Ai, and father, Luyen, had never seen someone with a cleft lip before. To them, it mattered little compared to the joy of welcoming their third child to the family. Ai’s midwife explained it was not unusual for a child to be born with a cleft lip and that surgery was possible to treat it. 

At 3 years old, energetic Danh loved preschool. But even his loving family sometimes had difficulty understanding his speech, and his classmates were quick to bully him when tempers flared. 

After learning about Operation Smile from a government agency, Danh’s family made the 60-mile trip to a surgical program, only to learn that Danh had an infection and couldn’t undergo safe surgery. Four months later, Ai traveled with Danh to another Operation Smile surgical program to finally get the care he needed. 

Six months after surgery, Ai said the family was overjoyed to witness Danh’s new smile, especially his two older sisters. She added that since his surgery, Danh’s overall health improved and that she can now understand him completely when he speaks. 

Read Ai and Danh’s story.

Fatima, Janat’s Mother

After seeing Janat’s cleft condition at her birth, Fatima was determined to do anything to protect and care for her daughter. But she watched over the next month as Janat’s health declined rapidly: Janat’s cleft condition was preventing her from drinking enough milk. 

“I was afraid that I was going to lose her,” Fatima said. “She was suffocating, and the milk would come out of her nose. It was very painful for me seeing her like that. I was scared and didn’t know where to go or who to ask.” 

After a family member showed her an Operation Smile Morocco video, Fatima learned help was only a few hours away. The family soon made the trip. Alongside hundreds of families seeking out care from Operation Smile highly trained medical professionals, Janat, who had lost nearly half of her birth weight, and her parents arrived in Oujda for screening day fully prepared to do whatever they could to save her life. 

“I used to cry for my daughter to see her like that,” Fatima said. “But when I saw those kids, I told myself that I’m not alone and that my daughter was born like them. I saw some kids who’ve received surgery. I was relieved when I saw them. It gave me hope.” 

At 1 month old, Janat was too young to receive surgery, but the team of volunteer dentists sprang into action. They created a feeding plate for Janat, allowing her to swallow milk more easily. While Janat normally ate about three ounces of milk in an entire day, after testing out her new plate for the first time, Janat drank two and a half ounces of milk in less than eight minutes. 

“I wasn’t expecting that – that they have this kind of solution for little kids,” Fatima said. “I was really happy that my daughter can drink milk, get full and be calm. I can’t describe my feelings. I was so relieved and so happy.” 

Meet Fatima and Janat.