Hello friends! I am excited to share that I have an opportunity to volunteer with Operation Smile on a surgical program in India, from March 12-23.
As you may know, Operation Smile is a global nonprofit specializing in expert cleft surgery and care. Since 1982, this Virginia Beach-based organization has been committed to providing patients with life-saving cleft surgeries and comprehensive care, all at no cost to the patient or their family. I was born with a cleft lip, and so this is a cause near to my heart.
As a volunteer for the organization, I make a direct impact on the lives of Operation Smile’s patients around the world by raising awareness and funds that help to make surgery possible. I will also be chaperoning a few student volunteers on the program.
A surgery can cost as little as $240 and take only 45 minutes, but it transforms a person’s life forever. Additionally, donated items from gracious people such as you, go a long way in supporting our patients.
During the surgical program in India, I will be working in the hospital alongside the Psychological Team to help ease the fears of the children receiving surgery and providing support and education to their families. Between screening and surgery scheduling, there is a considerable amount of waiting time for the families. We will use the opportunity to train them on topics like basic handwashing, brushing your teeth, burn care and prevention, CPR, and nutrition. We will also train them on use and maintenance of water filters, which we will be bringing for distribution to patients who do not have a reliable source of clean water.
We will also engage closely with the local communities, ensuring ongoing support to former patients by visiting schools and raising awareness of cleft conditions, supporting the efforts of local Student Programs and focusing on bringing local humanitarian efforts to a wider international audience.
Any contributions towards the above goal will go directly to the cost of water filters, dental products, and children's toys to distribute to cleft lip and palate patients.
A surgery can cost as little as $240 and take only 45 minutes, but it transforms a person’s life forever. Additionally, donated items from gracious people such as you, go a long way in supporting our patients.
I can’t thank you enough for your support. Together, we’re helping to make life better for someone else, and that’s truly the greatest gift of all.
Some additional Background:
The student program at Operation Smile is budget neutral, meaning donations to Op Smile never pay for students or chaperones to attend a surgical program. We pay our own expenses. However, families in this area are do not have reliable access to clean water. I don’t have to explain the benefits of clean water, but post-surgery it is even more important for wound cleaning, drinking, and hand washing. We will also give them to patients who are turned away during screening because they are not healthy enough to receive surgery. This increases their chances of being healthy enough to receive surgery in the future.
We will use Sawyer filters through a partnership Operation Smile has with Waves for Water. Each filter is roughly $35 and provides 100 people clean water for up to 5 years.
We also plan to bring Polaroid film to provide a picture of all children receiving surgery to their families to ensure they have one to keep.
At this time, the local team is planning for 65 surgeries and will likely screen another 30+ cleft patients for potential future surgery.
Visit https://www.operationsmile.org/ for more information on the organization.
Thank you again for your support!
Sarah Green
PS and final note: I was originally supposed to go to Madagascar for a surgical Program there. That trip was cancelled due to a monkey pox outbreak. Thank you to those who donated to that campaign. Those funds will be redirected to this program.