Kenya’s Rift valley, the birthplace of modern man and for the next fortnight the home of an extraordinary project.
Through this valley, Cecilia Kipkokoi has brought her 7 year old son Chebi, on a journey that may change his life.
Born with a disfiguring cleft lip, Chebi and his mother have come to Rift Valley Hospital to visit a team of doctors dispensing hope.
These surgeons have come from around the world to perform free surgery on hundreds of children suffering from cleft lips and palates. They call it Operation Smile.
In the west, facial deformities like these are repaired within weeks of birth.
But here the surgery is considered cosmetic, a luxury.
Surgeon: It’s quite a social stigma. They have quite a hard time finding jobs, finding a mate. It’s very much a social problem in countries where it’s just not repaired and you have to go through life with that large hole in your lip.
Chebi’s mother, like most who’ve come here, can’t explain why her child was born like this.
Cecilia Kipkokoi: I believe it was a temptation from God, because God is the creator and gives people different children. When I was given such a child I knew it was God’s temptation on me.
While hundreds will turn up for surgery, the doctors can only operate on 140. Before they can get to surgery, each child must go through a rigorous screening program.
Doctor (examining child): Can you open your mouth. Open your mouth...
Many won’t get through, malnutrition, anaemia, and infections will dash the hopes of dozens.
Chebi and his mother must wait six hours before its his turn.
First a paediatrician checks Chebi’s general health.
Doctor: Hello.
Doctor: Even though he looks thin and doesn’t have a lot of fat, he is pretty healthy.. and if his blood count is ok he can undergo surgery.
Passed fit, Chebi meets plastic surgeons, Sam Fuller and Mishak Onguti. They’ll decide whether the surgery is physically possible.
(Surgeons discuss case): He’s got a cleft of the aviola ridge...
Based on these examinations, the doctors decide who will be operated on.
Chebi and his mother must wait four days to hear whether he’s been chosen for surgery.
Unable to return home to her eight other children, Cecilia will sleep at the hospital with chebi and dozens of other patients who have no-where else to go.
Time passes slowly... a wandering preacher provides temporary distraction.
But all Chebi and his mother can do is wait and hope.
Four days on word is through, Chebi will get his operation.
Over in the wards, Chebi’s day starts like any other, but it’s hardly an ordinary day.
A final examination....
And one last look in the mirror.
In a strange environment Chebi waits his turn.
With 140 cases to get through, this is production line surgery.
Chebi’s turn comes soon enough though. But the fear of the unknown makes it a terrifying moment.
The surgery itself is simple, and takes around an hour, the surgeon delicately cuts the fine tissue and muscles around the gaping hole in Chebi’s lip.
Then neatly stitches each part into place.
Dr. Fuller: We’ve released his lip to where it was formally up here....
Before long, Chebi’s operation is over.
Doctor: He’s still a little sleepy but he’s doing good...
Sam Fuller’s work has transformed the young boy’s face.
And even through the anaesthetic haze he can tell something’s different.
Sam Fuller: At home if I fix a cleft lip or a cleft palate I would do it in one day, I would see one family. When I walk through the wards at night I will see anywhere from 30 to 60 children and all their families. The feeling of appreciation that one gets is just not had anywhere else.
In the mirror Chebi can see a new face. It’s not one he’s seen before but it is his own.
Through this valley, Cecilia Kipkokoi has brought her 7 year old son Chebi, on a journey that may change his life.
Born with a disfiguring cleft lip, Chebi and his mother have come to Rift Valley Hospital to visit a team of doctors dispensing hope.
These surgeons have come from around the world to perform free surgery on hundreds of children suffering from cleft lips and palates. They call it Operation Smile.
In the west, facial deformities like these are repaired within weeks of birth.
But here the surgery is considered cosmetic, a luxury.
Surgeon: It’s quite a social stigma. They have quite a hard time finding jobs, finding a mate. It’s very much a social problem in countries where it’s just not repaired and you have to go through life with that large hole in your lip.
Chebi’s mother, like most who’ve come here, can’t explain why her child was born like this.
Cecilia Kipkokoi: I believe it was a temptation from God, because God is the creator and gives people different children. When I was given such a child I knew it was God’s temptation on me.
While hundreds will turn up for surgery, the doctors can only operate on 140. Before they can get to surgery, each child must go through a rigorous screening program.
Doctor (examining child): Can you open your mouth. Open your mouth...
Many won’t get through, malnutrition, anaemia, and infections will dash the hopes of dozens.
Chebi and his mother must wait six hours before its his turn.
First a paediatrician checks Chebi’s general health.
Doctor: Hello.
Doctor: Even though he looks thin and doesn’t have a lot of fat, he is pretty healthy.. and if his blood count is ok he can undergo surgery.
Passed fit, Chebi meets plastic surgeons, Sam Fuller and Mishak Onguti. They’ll decide whether the surgery is physically possible.
(Surgeons discuss case): He’s got a cleft of the aviola ridge...
Based on these examinations, the doctors decide who will be operated on.
Chebi and his mother must wait four days to hear whether he’s been chosen for surgery.
Unable to return home to her eight other children, Cecilia will sleep at the hospital with chebi and dozens of other patients who have no-where else to go.
Time passes slowly... a wandering preacher provides temporary distraction.
But all Chebi and his mother can do is wait and hope.
Four days on word is through, Chebi will get his operation.
Over in the wards, Chebi’s day starts like any other, but it’s hardly an ordinary day.
A final examination....
And one last look in the mirror.
In a strange environment Chebi waits his turn.
With 140 cases to get through, this is production line surgery.
Chebi’s turn comes soon enough though. But the fear of the unknown makes it a terrifying moment.
The surgery itself is simple, and takes around an hour, the surgeon delicately cuts the fine tissue and muscles around the gaping hole in Chebi’s lip.
Then neatly stitches each part into place.
Dr. Fuller: We’ve released his lip to where it was formally up here....
Before long, Chebi’s operation is over.
Doctor: He’s still a little sleepy but he’s doing good...
Sam Fuller’s work has transformed the young boy’s face.
And even through the anaesthetic haze he can tell something’s different.
Sam Fuller: At home if I fix a cleft lip or a cleft palate I would do it in one day, I would see one family. When I walk through the wards at night I will see anywhere from 30 to 60 children and all their families. The feeling of appreciation that one gets is just not had anywhere else.
In the mirror Chebi can see a new face. It’s not one he’s seen before but it is his own.