A Journey of Hope - Operation Smile Canada
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2 0 2 1
SPRING
INSIDE
EVERY GRAM
COUNTS
LEVIS’ NEW
SMILE
MOVING FORWARD
TOGETHER
A Journey of Hope
We’re all facing uncertain times at this hot and dusty community is much his family had been praying for at
the moment, including many of our better than it was before. the Operation Smile Care Centre in
patients and their families. Searching Riohacha – just 80 km away. It was
for a better life, Pedro and his family From the very moment he was born, here Pedro received his free, safe cleft
abandoned their home in Venezuela Pedro’s family had prayed for answers. lip surgery in the summer of 2019.
and migrated to Colombia. They For seven long years, they tried to get His cleft palate was recently repaired
settled in the town of Uribia, located the help they needed to repair his in November 2020, when it was safe
15 km inland from the Caribbean cleft lip and cleft palate – all with no for our local volunteers to perform his
Sea in the northernmost part of success. Back in Venezuela, Pedro surgery. Currently in Colombia alone,
South America. The average daily was taunted and called “ugly” by the there are at least 398 other children
temperature there is 30°C. other children. He was frustrated that still waiting for their new smiles.
his speech made it impossible for
Homes in their neighbourhood are tiny people to understand him. Today, Pedro can’t stop smiling. His
and made from thin pieces of wood mother cried tears of joy when she
lashed together with wire and roofed Thanks to you and generous saw Pedro after surgery and said, “I
with corrugated metal or whatever Canadian partners, Pedro found the thank God and I thank you because
materials people can find. But life in life-changing medical care he and you made the effort to help us!”
Spring 2021 Smile Report 1
ESMERALDA’S
NEW SMILE Left: Esmeralda, from Nicaragua
Below: Esmeralda today
The sparkle in 16-month-old
Esmeralda’s eyes is hard to miss.
Born with a cleft lip, her parents Reyna
and Víctor never imagined this could
happen in their family. Like so many
parents who have never seen a cleft
condition before, they were shocked,
saddened and more than a little
worried for their precious girl. But over
time, they assimilated and accepted
her condition.
“We found out about Operation Smile Thankfully surgeries resumed in
Nicaragua after Esmeralda was born the fall of 2020 and Esmeralda’s
because the doctor who was treating parents received the call they’d been
her recommended the care centre, prayerfully waiting for – she was ready
explaining that they provided free to receive her new smile. “I cried with
surgeries to patients with cleft lip. joy, because I wanted to see her with
When we received this news, we were her lip good,” Reyna said. Today, there “The centre’s care is very good,”
happy,” Reyna said. are over 300 children on the patient said Reyna. “It is a blessing of God
registry in Nicaragua waiting for that it exists because there are
Esmeralda attended our international surgery, with more added every week. mothers who do not realize that there
medical mission in March 2020, but are surgeries for cleft lip repair and
she was suffering from anemia at the Esmeralda has since been receiving the best of all is that it is free and
time and was not healthy enough for ongoing comprehensive care from the I can only say that I am happy with
surgery. The pandemic postponed care centre in Managua: post-surgery the results of my daughter’s surgery.
all surgeries in Nicaragua for several interventions, nutrition advice, speech Thank you to the volunteers and
months and caused Reyna and Víctor therapy, and psychological support for donors who made it possible.”
to lose all the hope they had. the family.
MARK’S MESSAGE
I can never thank you enough for helping undernourished infants gain world. We’re collaborating more than
your partnership with our children the weight they need to be ready for ever with local healthcare partners
and families. It is so important when they are called. Some small, and volunteers. We know that
in helping our global teams move local missions have begun again strengthening local health systems
forward together and respond to the where it’s safe – a sure sign that hope will help deliver current and future
immediate needs of our patients is on the horizon. Yet just like here cleft surgery and care. A new smile is
and their families. This past year has at home, local COVID-19 conditions a gift that lasts a lifetime, and there
shown just how vital our investing shape the details of our activities are so many children just waiting (and
in local activities and training local and spur us to help our patients even counting on you) for theirs. Thank
volunteers is to the impact you’re more. you for being our partner on this
delivering in the countries where ever-evolving journey. We can’t smile
we work. With you by their side, we are laser- without you!
focused on the children – innovating
While so many children wait for what care we provide them now and Mark Climie-Elliott, CFRE
conditions to be safe for local how best to deliver it. We’re focused CEO and Chief Smile Officer
surgeries, nutrition programs are on and planning for the post-pandemic Operation Smile Canada
2 Spring 2021 Smile Report
WITH OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR:
Jia Ji and his mother Hu Ling
LISTERINE® JOINS LONGEST DAY OF SMILES®
TO DELIVER 3,000 NEW SMILES
When it comes to making someone smile, nothing comes This year, on Sunday, June 20th, we will be recognizing
together better than LISTERINE® and the Longest Day of achievements and celebrating 3,000 smiles raised by our
SMILES®. As this year’s presenting sponsor, LISTERINE® is community ambassadors and local supporters who do so
on board to help deliver 3,000 new smiles and complete much to help our patients and their families.
care to children with cleft conditions around the world – all
by June 20th – the longest day of the year.
“We saw this opportunity for LISTERINE® to
“We saw this opportunity for LISTERINE® to partner
partner with Operation Smile as a wonderful
with Operation Smile as a wonderful way to promote
the importance of good oral health for children here
way to promote the importance of good oral
in Canada,” said Rozelle Parma, Brand Manager at health for children here in Canada.”
LISTERINE®. “Additionally, we are helping to increase
awareness of Operation Smile’s important work, so that
they can continue to offer free, life-changing cleft surgery “Longest Day of SMILES® brings our communities together
and care to children in other countries.” and always connects them to the children and families we
serve,” said Mark Climie-Elliott, CEO and Chief Smile Officer
The LISTERINE® team is committed to focusing of Operation Smile Canada. “It’s our chance to recognize
marketing efforts to raise awareness of the Longest the commitment of so many people across the country
Day of SMILES®. Families are encouraged to join the who raise awareness of cleft lip and cleft palate, who raise
challenge and sign up to raise a smile (or two) of their funds for and with us, and who care passionately about
own. Simply visit www.longestdayofsmiles.ca or reach helping others. We’re thrilled to have LISTERINE® SMART
out to givesmiles@operationsmile.org and join the SMILE RINSE® as our presenting sponsor this year.”
movement today.
Spring 2021 Smile Report 3
THE SKELETONS OF VIVIAN
LINE ARE SMILING
Melissa McKerlie and her son Justin are dedicated
community ambassadors for Operation Smile Canada.
They’ve delivered 125 (and counting) new smiles since
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF
2018 using Justin’s love of skeletons as the platform…
well, the “platform” is actually their front yard in
HEALTH AND CARE WORKERS Stratford, Ontario.
During their weeks-long campaign in the run-up to Oct
Never before have healthcare workers been so critical to 31, this mother and son duo set up a new Halloween-
our safety and well-being as right now. To recognize the themed display each morning
dedication and sacrifice of the millions of these true heroes at 6am. No display is ever
at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World repeated and they’ve set up
Health Organization (WHO) has designated 2021 as the over 140 different displays
International Year of Health and Care Workers. over the past three years.
Operation Smile medical volunteers continue to be on the Stratford residents are
front lines of the pandemic in the countries where they live encouraged to drive by,
– a testament to their professionalism and true dedication. view the displays and
Local volunteers are continuing to provide vital care to support Operation Smile through the Skeletons
our patients; small-scale surgeries are occurring where of Vivian Line fundraising page on the Longest Day
the conditions are safe using local medical professionals. of SMILES® website. The fundraiser has grown each
Never out of mind are the tens of thousands of children year and the Stratford community loves the displays.
who continue to wait for their own new smile. We are Melissa, Justin and the Skeletons raised over $30,000
indebted to every health and care worker and all our this year from the community and important awareness
Operation Smile medical volunteers. Thank you for keeping about cleft conditions. Thanks, Melissa and Justin!
us safe, healthy and always smiling.
THE LONG ROAD TO A NEW SMILE
An Update on Levis Seven long months passed. During
that time, the care centre carefully
Ten-year-old Levis has a brand monitored the pandemic’s impact
new smile thanks to you and the around the country. Stringent
determination of Dr. Armando Siu, the new COVID-related protocols were
medical director of our care centre in developed to make it possible to
Nicaragua. conduct small-scale surgical missions Dr. Siu insisted that
when the conditions were safe. Levis be one of the first to receive his
One year ago at this time, Levis was new smile because his was one of
scheduled for cleft lip surgery on the Finally in October 2020 those the first surgeries postponed by the
last day of a large international medical conditions were right to safely and pandemic.
mission in Managua. He’d waited years cautiously resume surgery. Levis’
for this moment. The arrival of COVID-19 family received the call they were After the surgery was finished, Dr. Siu
in Nicaragua dashed his hopes, but not waiting for and once again, made the said, “The happiness that showed in
his resolve, as the pandemic postponed 16-hour journey by bus to Managua. Levis’ new smile was contagious! The
surgeries. Levis and his mother, Ángela, This time Levis was helping his mother whole family was so happy as they
went home sad, disappointed and the with his new five-month-old baby headed home.” Thank you, Canada,
waiting began. brother who also tagged along. for giving Levis a bright future ahead.
4 Spring 2021 Smile Report
Operation Smile Madagascar’s nutrition program in action
EVERY GRAM
COUNTS
Nutrition programs are the
lifeline for children waiting
for surgery.
Now more than ever, nutrition
programs are essential for keeping
infants and young children with
cleft conditions healthy as they wait
for their surgery. Even before the
outbreak of COVID-19, the overall
health of a child was one determining
factor for assessing eligibility for cleft
surgery.
Feeding can be difficult for children
with cleft conditions and can
often lead to undernourished and
malnourished patients. Surgery poses To ensure the safety of patients personalized to the patient to help
a real risk to them. and their guardians, as well as the them gain weight, one for water safety,
volunteers, new COVID-19 safety and one for hygiene.
Our programs are geared to reduce protocols are part of the program.
this risk by giving patients the These include the checking of These programs are helping us
nutritious food they need to gain temperatures, social distancing, establish a new nutrition program in
weight and become eligible for surgery setting up hand washing stations, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
when the time is right. wearing of face masks and face (DRC), the second largest country in
shields by volunteers and guardians, Africa. Set to begin in March 2021
In Ghana, the nutrition program has and the regular sanitization of and made possible with your support,
been operating on a monthly basis equipment. this nutrition program is our first
since 2015 (every other month during program in the DRC since 2019.
COVID) led by a team of volunteer In Madagascar, Operation Smile
nutritionists. Through a partnership periodically organizes two-day The country will be divided into four
with two regional hospitals, patients “nutrition boot camps” for its zones and a volunteer nutritionist
and their caregivers receive medical malnourished patients. Patients in each zone will train local health
assessments, education and training receive a thorough medical evaluation, workers in remote clinics. Through the
about good nutrition and feeding, and while caregivers receive medical clinics, patients and families will be
supplements to help malnourished guidance and counselling to correctly supplied with nutritional supplements,
and undernourished infants gain follow the prescribed nutrition plan. and mothers will receive instruction on
weight. Caregivers can also attend different feeding using a variety of techniques:
demonstrations and workshops, such breastfeeding, bottles, ready-to-use
As the program grows in importance as how to properly prepare a bottle therapeutic food (RUTF) or other
along with the number of patients of infant formula, prepare a well- supplements.
enrolled, more local nutrition balanced meal, treat water so it is
volunteers are being recruited and safe to use and drink, and apply good In the country’s capital city of
trained. This will help decentralize hygiene practices at home. All these Kinshasa, and before the program has
the program around the country and details are essential to increase the even begun, at least 20 patients under
bring the care closer to the patients likelihood that patients gain weight. age five have already been identified
– especially important during the as needing nutritional support.
pandemic. At the end of the boot camp, each
patient leaves with three kits: one
Spring 2021 Smile Report 5
MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER
As the pandemic continues to unfold in all the countries
where we work, there is so much uncertainty – about
2021
tomorrow, the next month, and the coming years. While
times are uncertain, our resolve to help our patients and
their families is not.
The last few months have given all of us an opportunity to
think about the past, make the best of each day, and plan for SMILES
the future. Our strengthened resolve and plan for the future
is spelled out in Roadmap 2021 & Beyond: Smiles Ahead
(see right). The plan is focused on keeping children safe and
AHEAD
healthy while they wait for their new smiles, strengthening
our ability to provide safe surgery now and address the ever-
growing backlog of children waiting for surgery in the future.
When and where it’s safe, small-scale surgeries are slowly
and carefully resuming. These surgical “missions” are
typically only one or two days in length and deliver new
NEW: THE ROAD AHEAD
smiles to just a handful of children. It’s what we’re able to do
safely now and it’s clearly not enough. Roadmap 2021 & Beyond: Smiles Ahead is one
part of our promise to keep you informed about our
One year into the pandemic, each cleft lip and palate that future direction and current funding needs. While
is repaired seems all that more special now – given the times are uncertain, our vision and resolve are not.
circumstances in which it was delivered: new pre-surgery Only you combined with our dedicated volunteers
COVID testing, limited patient travel, extended on-site makes our work possible. We face greater
stays, extensive pre- and post-operative health monitoring obstacles as the pandemic continues to unfold, and
of patients and their families, new surgical locations, new we can only move forward together.
COVID-related check lists – the list goes on.
Roadmap 2021 outlines five key areas of focus,
Each new smile is a testament to your unwavering support, investment and impact for Operation Smile Canada:
and the true dedication of our medical volunteers and
healthcare partners. We are moving forward and we just Delivering Safe Surgery at the
cannot thank you enough for standing with us. Local Level
Battling Malnutrition
DDr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Investing in Education and
Co-Founders, Operation Smile Training
Pioneering Cleft Research
Supporting Local Comprehensive
Cleft Care Centres
You can read the Roadmap online at:
operationsmile.ca/roadmap. If you would prefer a
printed copy, just give us a call at: 1.844.376.4530.
Thank you.
6 Spring 2021 Smile Report
Johana Amar
AN INSPIRING MISSION EXPERIENCE
Even as a child, Johana Amar had organization that uses donations Why Designate a Charity
no doubt what she would grow up to wisely. I saw that on my mission.
be. “I was born to be a nurse,” she They work really hard at changing as a Beneficiary of Your
said. Another passion of Johana’s
is humanitarian work. “I always
lives and making a huge difference.” Retirement Fund?
wanted to be part of a community After reflecting on her experiences By choosing a registered charity as a
that helped other people – people as an Operation Smile volunteer, beneficiary of your RRSP, RRIF or TFSA,
impacted by conflict, crises or Johana decided to make Operation your estate will receive a donation
poverty.” Smile Canada a beneficiary of receipt for the full value of your gift,
her retirement funds. “I feel so and the tax credit reduces and can
A professional colleague told her passionate about helping others and even completely offset estate taxes.
about the work of Operation Smile. it felt like the right thing to do. So
Her colleague had been on several many children with cleft conditions It’s a tried and true way of having an
missions with Operation Smile and live in silence – they don’t have a enduring impact, one that Johana and
encouraged Johana to investigate voice. I felt it would be wrong to a growing number of other Operation
further. leave them in silence,” she said, Smile Canada supporters have
explaining her reason for making a embraced.
Johana volunteered on her first lasting gift. “I want to make their
medical mission in 2017 in lives better.”
Managua, Nicaragua. “I had a great
experience. I was impressed with “I know that the right things will be
how well everything was prepared. done with my gift. Having been on a
No detail was too small and every medical mission, I know the support
aspect of patient care was thought Operation Smile receives really The Forever Smiles Club honours
through in advance,” said Johana. makes a difference and goes to help supporters who make a lasting gift,
the people we serve. I also like the such as through wills, life insurance
She was also impressed with the fact that Operation Smile is working policies and retirement funds. To
scope of care provided to patients for better levels of healthcare, better become a member, please reach out
and their families at the mission prenatal care in low- and middle- to Ken Butland at: 1.844.376.4530
site – speech therapists, child income countries. It’s an important (direct: 1.647.952.8229) or by email at:
life specialists and counselling. aspect of long-term change that ken.butland@operationsmile.org.
“Operation Smile is a very good helps everyone.”
Spring 2021 Smile Report 7
ALWAYS BE THERE
FOR THE CHILDREN
Laura, from
Colombia
Every gift leads to a smile and means the world to a child
who needs your help. A great way to help more children is
to become a monthly SMILE PARTNER. Giving monthly is
an easy, budget-friendly way for you to deliver impact to the
children every month. You’ll keep them healthy before and after
their surgery, ensuring care every step of the way.
After surgery, most children require follow-up care. Laura was
born with a cleft lip and palate and has been our patient her
whole life. With her mom, Nancy, she first visited Operation
Smile Colombia when she was just two days old. Over the
years, Laura’s had five surgeries, continuous dental and
orthodontic work, and ongoing speech therapy. She’s grown
up to be a vibrant teenager and remains part of the Operation
Smile family.
This is just part of your impact as a SMILE PARTNER. We’re
very cautiously resuming local small-scale surgeries where
conditions are safe for patients and local medical volunteers.
Moving forward together, we will help deliver new smiles to the
thousands of waiting children around the world.
Call us at: 1.844.376.4530 or visit operationsmile.ca
and become a SMILE PARTNER today. Thank you.
Thank you for changing a child’s life with a new smile.
WE’RE HERE TO SERVE YOU Contact us
by phone:
Toll-free: 1.844.376.4530 or
Local: 647.696.0600
From making a donation over the phone, updating By email: ca-supporters@operationsmile.org
your contact information, changing your monthly donor
credit card or banking information, to discussing the By mail or 375 University Ave., Suite 204
impact of your gift or how to have lasting impact with a in person: Toronto, ON M5G 2J5
gift made through your will, we’re always so pleased to
Visit our
hear from you. website: www.operationsmile.ca
/operationsmilecanada @operationsmilecanada
8 Spring 2021 Smile Report
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