According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Smile Foundation, Kim Robertson, amongst those undergoing surgery is a 7-year-old boy from Warden in the Free State who was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Robertson thanks all the medical practitioners at the Universitas Academic Hospital for their commitment as well as the administrators, sponsor, and volunteers who are helping make the week a success.  

In October 2021, OFM News spoke to Driekie Swanepoel – mother to 8-year-old Kyle Peypers – who at that stage had undergone six surgeries to correct his cleft and lip palate. The first was when he was three months old. Swanepoel said she was eternally grateful for the constant assistance from the Smile Foundation. 

“Universitas is great and we’re grateful for the whole programme and the team. Without them it would not be possible,” said Swanepoel at the time. The majority of the children were born with facial abnormalities whilst others were injured in incidences that left them slightly deformed.

READ MORE - #SmileWeek: Ma se trane van dankbaarheid

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