This is a common saying whose deep meaning is rarely appreciated. However, this was the testimony of Mary Matthew in May, when the team of Oral Health Advocacy Initiative in partnership with Smile Train set up their station at the State Specialist Health Centre in Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria. Mary Matthew was among the first patients to show up. She had come alone and was already in the Operation Room by the time her next of kin (her daughter) arrived at the premises.

Mrs. Mary admitted being scared when she entered the operation room, but she was reassured by the friendly atmosphere created by the OHAI medical team in the room, who even communicated with her in her local Yoruba language. The surgery was done in a blink of an eye to the surprise of everyone including Mrs. Mary given her preoperative cleft condition.

She came out as “LADY MAY” with a totally different outlook. Her daughter called out her name to make sure she was beholding the same woman who left the house that morning. Though, Mrs. Mary seemed worried as she tried to speak, and pointed her fingers to her lips.

At 72 years - “I am breathing through my nose” - those were the first audible words she uttered. The very first time she did not have to repeat for people to hear. That utterance had a deeper interpretation to everyone present at that moment; due to her very large cleft lip, her mouth had never been able to close properly, which compelled her to breathe orally throughout her life.

Therefore, she found it surprising to feel the airflow through her nostrils. Her fears were calmed as she was prescribed free post-operative medication. Under the unending rain of praises, Mrs. Mary and her daughter thanked the team prayed God to reward them abundantly, even as the team has given her a new life.

Despite the stitches, she drew a visible smile each time we showed her a mirror or a recent picture of hers. At 72, we can say that a new life had begun for her.

OHAI is a leading non-governmental organization in the treatment of cleft lip and other oral-facial diseases in Nigeria. In 2019, OHAI Africa successfully carried out over 1,000 corrective surgeries on children and adults in more than 15 states in Nigeria. This has earned OHAI several awards both local and global recognition around the world following its innovative technique and procedures for carrying out the corrective surgeries according to the global standards.

Source: http://ohaiafrica.org/news/better-late-than-never-mary-matthew

Good effort

Na waaa!!!

Waakanda:
Good effort

Thank you. You can find more inspiring stories on the website.

If you lost 10k at your age will you cry?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOXlit5s1lk

If I say 'Graphic' now they will start attacking me left, right and center. Lemme just keep quiet.

wow

Good

Biko This is Scary

Whose Grand ma is this !!!

Zoo not far from Home !!!

Great one. I wish the lady that was shot in the face by arm robbers a few weeks ago can benefit from this too.

This is serious....... Congrats to the surgeons

VanGap:


Biko This is Scary

Whose Grand ma is this !!!

Zoo not far from Home !!!

Ya, yhu need to be taken there asap, or isn't that supposed to be yhur abode again?!

Please add Graphic picture on both the Before and After!

Awon space bookers

Hmm

TRANSFORMATION

Congratulations mama!

nice

She doesn't look 72. She looks like someone in her mid or late 80s.

the good side of science.

9ja is trying

God bless Nigeria Doctors

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Nice one.
So good that this woman will look at herself in the mirror again.

nice one...... na her eyes com remain to work on

Complete transformation