From surgery to celebration: Ramsgate child blows out birthday candles for first time

Three-year-old Nzulu from Ramsgate recently blew out his birthday candles for the first time, a milestone made possible by the cleft lip and palate surgeries he received through Operation Smile South Africa’s (OSSA) comprehensive cleft care programme in his first two years of life.

As the year draws to a close, Nzulu’s parents Thandisiziwe Maphongo and Sinazo Mtolo, reflect on the life-changing support that has transformed their son’s journey.

This milestone comes in a year where Operation Smile has provided access to specialised free surgery for just over 150 patients, contributing to a total of more than 500 life-changing surgeries to date.

“We were overjoyed when we learnt that Nzulu could receive free cleft care through Operation Smile,” his parents say. “We had researched how expensive bilateral cleft lip and palate repair can be and knowing this support was available free of charge through Operation Smile, gave us hope. We are truly blessed and grateful.”

“Watching him blow out his birthday candles and enjoy cake for the first time was an incredibly powerful moment,” they add. “It showed us how far he has come and that he has a real chance at a normal, happy future – something we are especially thankful for as the year ends.”

Nzulu’s family first heard about Operation Smile when the NGO conducted a cleft awareness training near their former home in rural Bizana, Eastern Cape for Community Healthcare Workers (CHW).

The workshop equipped local CHWs with essential skills to identify cleft conditions and refer families to Operation Smile’s free surgical and support services.

It was here that Nzulu’s parents – then caring for a newborn just weeks old – learnt that specialised cleft care was available at no cost.

Following their referral, they were supported by Operation Smile volunteer nurse Mam Funeka, who provided early feeding assistance and guidance on navigating common challenges associated with cleft conditions.

“Unfortunately there’s a lot of misinformation out there and many parents think a cleft lip or cleft palate is a disability,” says Nzulu’s father Thandisizwe. “I used to think that too. That’s why I share our experience and connect with other families – both in person and through social media. Early intervention and care makes such a difference, especially for speech and development and I’m grateful that we can now help other families find that same support.”

In October 2023, the family travelled to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha for Operation Smile’s surgical outreach, where Nzulu underwent surgery to repair his cleft lip. His first birthday fell during the outreach, though postoperative restrictions meant he was unable to eat solid foods – including his birthday cake.

They returned in late 2024 for his cleft palate repair, which again coincided with his birthday. Despite a successful procedure, post-op recovery restrictions meant he could still not enjoy a normal celebration.

During Operation Smile’s’s 2025 surgical programme in Mthatha in October, Nzulu returned for a scheduled follow-up appointment. With both surgeries fully healed and no dietary limitations, he celebrated his third birthday by blowing out his candles and enjoying cake for the first time.

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