He says that this is quite a process because in order to have all the children admitted to the hospital they need to empty out adult wards. Jooste explained that the Smile Foundation helps the hospital with nursing staff to make sure that this week runs smoothly.

Roadmac Surfing HR Manager, Gerrit van Niekerk, told OFM News this week is not about the company and what they sponsor but it is about the children who are receiving surgery that will restore their dignity. He says the company is in a very fortunate position to be part of the Smile Week.

Some of the parents at the hospital were kind enough to share their stories with OFM News.

One of the parents, Motlatsi Maku, said that her daughter, Oregolele Maku, had surgery this week. They took part of her rib and sculpted an ear for her. She said they did one ear and will do the other one next year. Maku says that she is grateful for this opportunity because she never wants her daughter to blame her for not taking the opportunities that were given to them. She said she wants her daughter to look at herself and feel beautiful.

Another parent, Mandisa Ali, told OFM News that her daughter is a twin but she is the only one with the problem. She says, in the beginning, it was extremely hard for her because it was something new to her as a mother. Ali says that her daughter already had surgery before this Smile Week. She explained that they will be fixing her little mouth because she has a cleft palate. This will be the fourth operation on little Amberin Ali.

Operation executive director of the Smile Foundation, Moria Gerszt, said Smile Week is always a pleasure for her and that this week they will be operating on 23 children in total.

Gerszt says that it is such an amazing experience to be able to give these children life-changing surgery.

OFM News/Sazly Hartzenberg