Behind every operation stands a person. A child who can smile again. A family that rediscovers hope. A team that shows what compassion looks like in practice.
The following stories are snapshots – small insights into what Cleft-Children International CCI achieves around the world.
They speak of courage and trust, of the strength to refuse resignation, and of an unwavering belief in new beginnings.
For healing is more than a medical procedure. It is the start of a new chapter in life.
Each of these children carries a smile that endures – because people chose to take responsibility and turn hope into reality.
«When a child smiles for the first time after surgery, it reminds us why we do what we do – because every smile counts.»
Prof. Dr. Dr. Hermann F. Sailer
Komal was ten years old when her life changed. She was born with a cleft lip and palate in a small Indian town where medical care was barely accessible. From an early age, she felt that she was different. Some children laughed at her at school, and people on the street turned their eyes away.
Only at home did Komal feel safe. Her parents gave her love and the certainty that she was beautiful – just as she was. But her mother knew that love alone was not enough. She wanted her daughter to live without shame or pain, yet she feared the unknown: the journey, the costs, the operation.
One day, Komal met Vrushali, a dedicated staff member of a local NGO. Vrushali saw the quiet girl and immediately recognized that help was possible – free treatment at one of CCI’s cleft centers.
With patience and empathy, she convinced Komal’s mother to take this step. For the first time, hope felt within reach.
Soon after, mother and daughter traveled to the Holy Spirit Hospital in Mumbai, a partner center of Cleft-Children International CCI. There, they were welcomed by a warm and caring team.
Neha, a member of the cleft team, took time for them, explained every step – and gave them courage. When Komal finally met Dr. Parit Ladani, the lead surgeon, her nervousness slowly gave way to confidence.
The surgery was a success. When Komal woke up, she felt that something was different – her breathing, her smile, her entire face.
A few weeks later, she returned to school. This time, she was not stared at – she was smiled at. For the first time, she felt simply like a child among children.
Komal’s story is one of courage and trust – and an example of how a single operation reaches far beyond medicine.
Today, her smile is more than a sign of healing: It stands for hope, dignity, and the strength to begin again.
Nathan was five years old when his life changed. He was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate – and with a severe heart defect. For his family in the small Indian village of Idukki, this was an almost impossible burden. Eating, speaking, breathing – everything was difficult. Every day was a struggle.
His mother, Twinkle, loved him deeply but was battling her own psychological challenges. So his grandmother stepped in – a woman of quiet courage who did everything she could to give the boy security and love.
But the family lived at the edge of survival. Nathan’s father, Sinu, worked as a woodcutter, and there was never enough money for medication, let alone surgery.
They sought help in several hospitals. Everywhere, they heard the same words: «The risk is too high.» Nathan’s heart was considered too weak for an operation. Hope faded – until they heard of Dr. Mathew P. C., an experienced surgeon collaborating with Cleft-Children International CCI.
Dr. Mathew saw more than risks – he saw a chance. He explained that surgery could be possible with careful preparation and assured them that CCI would cover all costs.
For the family, it was almost unbelievable: for the first time, healing was not a question of money.
On the day of the operation, Nathan’s grandmother held his hand as he was taken into the operating theatre. Her heart was heavy with fear – and yet full of trust. Dr. Mathew and his team, supported by pediatric cardiologists, worked with precision and care.
When Nathan woke up, everything was different. His lips were closed. His face was peaceful.
In the weeks that followed, he recovered astonishingly quickly. He began to speak, to laugh, to play. Fear gave way to joy, and what once seemed impossible became reality.
Today, Nathan is a cheerful boy – healthy, curious, full of life. His family says it is as if he has two hearts: one that beats strongly, and one that is full of gratitude.
Thanks to the support of CCI and the dedication of Dr. Mathew, Nathan not only found his voice – he found his future. A child who once had almost no hope now smiles – with a smile that lasts.
Kabeer is five years old – a lively, curious child from a small village in northern India.
But his start in life was difficult. He was born with a cleft lip and palate – a condition that made eating, speaking, and even smiling nearly impossible.
His parents live at the edge of subsistence. His father collects scrap metal, his mother cares for the home and the children. Together, they earn barely five dollars a day. There was never enough money for medical check-ups or even an ultrasound during pregnancy. And so Kabeer’s condition came as a shock at the moment of birth – in a simple house, without a doctor, helped only by a traditional midwife.
The family loved their son, but they did not know that healing existed. In their village, no one had ever heard of surgery for children like Kabeer. So he grew up with his cleft – quiet, withdrawn, and often the target of ridicule.
When his parents moved to Kerala in search of work and a better life, they encountered Dr. Mathew P. C., head of the Cleft and Craniofacial Unit at St. Thomas Hospital in Malakkara – and with him, their first real hope. For the first time, they learned that Kabeer’s condition was treatable. That one operation could change his face, his voice, and his life.
Soon after, Kabeer underwent surgery at St. Thomas Hospital – free of charge, thanks to the support of Cleft-Children International CCI. The operation was a success. When he woke from anesthesia, his cleft was closed. His mother wept with relief; his father stood silently beside her, unable to speak. They had witnessed something they could hardly put into words: a miracle made possible through knowledge, courage, and compassion.
In the weeks after the surgery, Kabeer healed quickly. He began to speak more clearly, to laugh, and to approach others with confidence. The quiet reserve that had shaped his early years gave way to a bright, childlike joy that had long been hidden. Today, he plays with other children, goes to school, and proudly shows his new smile.
Thanks to CCI and the dedication of Dr. Mathew, Kabeer has found his voice, his smile, and his future. A child who once suffered in silence now laughs – and with him, an entire family.
These stories are examples – they stand for many thousands more. For children who have found their voices thanks to CCI. For families who have rediscovered hope. And for all the people who help make each of these smiles possible.
To give a smile is to give a future. And every smile that lasts reminds us why this work continues – day after day, child after child.
«These children teach us the true meaning of courage. Their new smile is not just healing – it is hope in its purest form.»
Dr. h.c. Erika Sailer