Two Thumbs-Up

Operation Smile India’s ability to reach patients like Bipul is the result of the organization’s innovative approach and ambition to improve access to safe cleft care for people living in hard-to-reach communities.

At every stage of the program, whether it was receiving a health evaluation or waiting during patient announcement day, Bipul had a huge smile on his face as he gave two thumbs-up to anyone who passed by.  

Bipul’s courage helped him not only face the unfamiliar environment of the program, but also connect with other patients and volunteers at the hospital.

Seven-year-old Monu – whose family also learned about the program at the same awareness event – was one patient in particular who formed a strong bond with Bipul. 

While living with a cleft condition can put a child’s life in jeopardy with an increased risk of illness and malnutrition, it can also lead to a life of loneliness and isolation due to the harmful stigmatization.

For Monu and Bipul, they’d lived five minutes away from each other their entire lives – but never met each other until that day at the program.

Monu’s parents, Santosh and Bina, knew that their son wasn’t the only child living with a cleft condition. But as they looked around the program site, they were shocked to see the number of families who had arrived in Durgapur seeking out safe surgical care for their children.

After they passed their comprehensive health evaluations, Bipul and Monu stayed near each other throughout the program, playing happily together in the child life area before their surgeries.

Taking after his older companion, Monu also began giving a thumbs-up to the volunteers and staff members he met. Later during the program, the Operation Smile medical team healed the smiles of the new friends, who remained close even after returning home.

With a safe surgery from Operation Smile, a patient’s future becomes brighter. Not only does a child get the opportunity to go to school and make friends without fear of bullying, but they also gain a newfound confidence to chase after a dream that they once feared would never come true.

Monu’s dream is to become a police officer. Bipul wants to continue receiving an education and eventually learn to speak English.

For Monu and Bipul, a condition that often prevents people from building relationships ended up uniting two unlikely friends.