Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital changed a six-year-old burn victim’s life forever
The Smile Foundation helped Nonhlanhla Zwane undergo tissue expander surgery, which is a procedure performed to promote the growth of healthy supplementary skin used for the replacement of damaged skin.
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital helped restore a six-year-old, third-degree burn survivor Nonhlanhla Zwane’s smile.
The six-year-old’s mother, Smangele Zwane explained how their lives changed in September 2018.
“Nonhlanhla was nine months old when I thought she was safe at home with my parents and niece. I received a call from our neighbour telling me that our house was on fire. I lost both my parents and my niece in the fire. My little girl was fighting for her life in ICU and due to the terrible burns, Nonhlanhla lost her ear, some of her fingers and part of her nose before her first birthday.”
Zwane added that since the fire, Nonhlanhla has gone for several surgeries and learned how to walk at almost three and a half years, but she still struggles with her left foot which was damaged in the fire.
Speaking in Parktown, she explained that her journey with the Smile Foundation began when a nurse at her local clinic recommended the foundation for her daughter’s further healing.
“It has been a long journey, and finally The Smile Foundation is going to help us with the tissue expander surgery- which is a procedure performed to promote the growth of healthy supplementary skin used for the replacement of damaged skin. I am so grateful; I would never be able to afford this kind of surgery for my child and I know it will make a great difference to her life.”
Although Zwane was nervous that her daughter was going in for surgery, she was excited that her daughter would have a head full of hair. Nonhlanhla always asked her why Zwane cut her hair and could not braid it to look like other children’s hair and it saddened her to not be able to give her an answer she would understand.
The Gazette reached out to the little girl’s mother for an update on how the surgery went. “Her operation went well. We have been going for check-ups at Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital to see if the tissue expander is doing its job and if there are no infections. Nonhlanhla currently wears bandages on her head and will do so for the next three months, until the doctor gives us a go-ahead to remove them and tells us the next steps.”
The Smile Foundation celebrated smile week from May 7 to 14. Twenty children from previously disadvantaged families underwent life-changing reconstructive surgery which involved cleft lip and palate repair with the exception of Nonhlanhla who underwent tissue expander surgery and another child who had undergone full ear reconstructive surgery.
Smile Week also took place during National Burn Safety Awareness Week. May is also Burn Awareness Month, during which the Smile Foundation raises awareness around the seriousness and prevention of burns, in remembrance of those who have been affected by this national public health problem.
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