At the age of 11, Dang Thi Van Anh, from Nam Vuong village, Ngu Loc commune, Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province, has undergone two facial surgeries. The girl has a honey-colored complexion and bright eyes, but her childhood was marked by hardship, having been born with a congenital cleft palate and cleft lip.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, Van Anh’s mother, in 2013, while working as a factory worker in Binh Duong, she married Mr. Dang Van Hoa. A year later, they welcomed twin girls. “Van Anh weighed 1.1kg, and her younger sister was 1.2kg; both were weak and had to be kept in an incubator,” Ms. Thanh recalled.
Unlike her sister, Van Anh was born with a cleft lip and palate. Every time she looked at her daughter, Ms. Thanh’s heart ached.
Ms. Thanh shared that due to the birth defect, Van Anh had difficulty eating, experienced delayed language development, and often suffered from respiratory illnesses.
“Many times she was severely ill, her body frail, a sight that frightened everyone. Some even said she was too weak to live, not human, and advised our family to abandon her. But I believe every child born is a destiny; they have the right to live and be cared for by their family,” shared Mr. Dang Van Dieu, Van Anh’s paternal grandfather.
When Van Anh was over one year old, Mr. Dieu learned about the “zero-cost surgery” program by Operation Smile Vietnam. He registered, hoping his granddaughter could undergo surgery and find her smile again.
“In early 2016, Van Anh was taken to Military Central Hospital 108 for examination and surgery. After the operation, the gap in her lip and palate was closed, aiding her language development. By the age of three, she began to speak,” Mr. Dieu recounted.
His family received financial support for the surgery, food, and travel expenses from the Children’s Protection Fund, alleviating their economic burden.
In 2020, Van Anh underwent her second surgery at Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Hospital. This time, everyone thought the girl wouldn’t make it due to her weak health. But a “miracle” occurred; after 45 minutes of surgery, Van Anh gradually regained consciousness.
With the desire for his granddaughter to have a beautiful face and a better voice, Mr. Dieu’s family took Van Anh to the hospital for examination, screening, and cosmetic surgery on her lip and palate. However, doctors advised that the third surgery would be performed when Van Anh turns 16.
Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, Chairman of Ngu Loc Commune People’s Committee, stated that cleft lip and palate defects seriously affect a child’s appearance and spirit. These defects can make children self-conscious, reluctant to communicate, and face difficulties in daily life.
According to Mr. Quang, cleft lip and palate surgeries are like “miracles” for children with disabilities. “After surgery, children overcome difficulties in eating, improve their daily activities, and gain confidence. From there, they have hope and faith in a bright future,” Mr. Quang expressed.
According to the Thanh Hoa Children’s Protection Fund, since 2010, the unit has collaborated with Operation Smile Vietnam and the Vietnam Children’s Protection Fund to perform over 400 free surgeries for children with birth defects in the area. Thousands of children have been screened for maxillofacial defects.
Mr. Lai The Quang, Director of the Thanh Hoa Children’s Protection Fund, shared: “Surgery not only reduces birth defects and restores a complete face and smile but also eliminates self-consciousness and heals physical and emotional trauma for children. From this, children gain confidence, integrate, and develop normally.
“We are honored to be a ‘bridge’ bringing happiness and hope to less fortunate children. The smiles and joy of the children’s families are our motivation to strive and work hard.”
