Smile Foundation celebrates 25 years back where it all began
From July 14 to 18, the hospital is hosting Smile Week, offering 14 life-changing procedures to young patients in need. This week is especially meaningful, as the very first Smile surgery took place at the hospital 25 years ago.
Read more: Telkom Foundation continues Mandela's legacy through its work
Marc Lubner, co-founder of the Smile Foundation, reflected on the milestone during a media day held on July 15. 'We are proud to return to where it all started. This journey has always been about care, dignity, and creating a country future generations will want to live in.'
The foundation partners with hospitals to provide theatre time and aftercare for children, relying on trust and compassion, not cost.
Long-time partner, Vodacom, has played a key role since 2007. Managing director Ridwaan Soomra shared: 'We believe in using technology to support social transformation. Together with the Smile Foundation, we are helping to build a better future.'
The week is not just about surgeries; it is about stories, partnerships, and a shared commitment to making South Africa smile.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
20 hours ago
- The South African
WWE legend Hulk Hogan dies aged 71
Legendary WWE wrestler, Hulk Hogan, real name is Terry Gene Bollea, died at the age of 71 on Thursday morning. Medical professionals were reportedly sent to Hogan's home in Clearwater, Florida, early on Thursday morning, with operators saying that the emergency call was regarding a 'cardiac arrest'. Several police cars and EMTs were parked outside Hogan's home, and the WWE icon was reportedly carried out on a stretcher into an ambulance. His passing comes just weeks after Hogan's wife, Sky, rubbished rumours of the icon being in a coma. She had said that her husband's heart was 'strong' as he recovered from surgeries. Earlier this year, speculations were rife that the wrestling icon was on his deathbed. However, sources close to Hulk Hogan reportedly assured that he was doing fine. Rumours had started spreading as the star was hospitalised for some neck and back problems that he had been enduring for a long time. His representative had asserted that Hogan was not in a life-threatening condition. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. Post your condolences below, by … Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Miracle recovery for baby on life support at Waterfall City Hospital
Baby's life was at risk due to a serious chest infection but expert care and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation helped him recover. When a two-month-old baby's chest infection suddenly turned serious, he was not breathing properly and was slipping in and out of consciousness, says his mother, remembering the horrifying realisation. 'I knew we had to try to keep him awake. He needed urgent medical care and so I drove with Nkateko on my lap to the emergency department at Netcare Waterfall City Hospital. 'I don't remember parking the car – I just rushed him inside and they immediately put him on oxygen,' said Nthabiseng Mlangeni. Baby's chest infection suddenly turned serious Nkateko was first admitted to the paediatric unit and his mother was able to remain with her son, rooming with him. After several days in the hospital, Nkateko was again struggling to breathe, despite medication and physiotherapy to help clear mucus from his lungs. Doctors transferred Nkateko, whose name means 'blessing', to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) under the care of paediatric intensivist Dr Palesa Monyake. ALSO READ: 'My hell after a botched op': Mother's life in ruins after botched birth surgery 'In the PICU, they started him on high-flow oxygen and Dr Monyake explained the unfamiliar environment to us, the treatment Nkateko was receiving and how they were monitoring his condition every minute. 'It was the hardest thing to leave my two-month-old baby and go home because parents can't room with their children in the high-care environment,' Mlangeni said. 'I did not sleep at all that night, between worrying about Nkateko and anxiously expecting a call from the hospital at any moment. It was one of many sleepless nights in the weeks ahead, but we came to trust the PICU team implicitly.' Swell up in response to infection The next day, Nkateko's vital statistics suddenly dropped further, requiring the baby to be placed on a ventilator, then on an oscillator to support his breathing. 'He started to swell up in response to the infection and it was extremely frightening to see all these tubes sticking out of him. 'Our families in Gauteng and other relatives travelled from different provinces to support us. We knew it was a very serious situation, and we prayed constantly,' Mlangeni said. ALSO READ: Smile Foundation's 25 years of changing lives Monyake said Nkateko was one of several children admitted to the PICU requiring critical care for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) so far this year. 'Babies' immune systems have not had the time to build up resistance to the many common germs such as RSV that generally would not cause serious illness among older children or adults,' she said. 'It is rare to put a child on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, however, this RSV season has been particularly brutal, and we are grateful this lifesaving option is available for our patients who are in the critical situation that Nkateko faced.' Life-threatening circumstances Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Sharmel Bhika said extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a form of life support in which specialised equipment artificially performs the functions of the heart and lungs, giving them a chance to heal. It is only considered in life-threatening circumstances for such young children. 'Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a valuable lifeline when other forms of ventilation are no longer proving effective. Without this intervention Nkateko may not be with us today. 'He required maximum mechanical ventilatory support and was not reaching targets for adequate oxygenation. ALSO READ: Baby girl's life saved by surgery 'Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was a clear indication in Nkateko's case with his rapid deterioration and increased demand on mechanical ventilatory support,' Bhika said. Mlangeni said: 'Although I felt like I was at breaking point, we remained prayerful. We also found comfort and support from the nurses and the unit manager Sister Jabulile Nxumalo. 'Every nurse who looked after Nkateko did so with so much care and they really supported us. The doctors, especially Dr Monyake, who was so supportive and prayed with us, and the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation doctors who ensured that we were updated throughout the process, and the families of other children who were also being cared for in the PICU.' Every nurse who looked after Nkateko did so with care The baby boy showed remarkable resilience as he fought for survival. 'Nkateko gradually improved enough that we could consider transitioning after three weeks back onto conventional ventilation,' Bhika said. Monyake added: 'This little boy had us so worried, it was an emotional roller-coaster, but his parents were amazing. They remained positive and drew strength from their faith.' NOW READ: Bara hospital: The good, bad and ugly
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Limpopo River turns green: Officials blame algae but DA suspects pollution
The Vhembe district municipality says laboratory tests show the green water in the Limpopo River is not due to contamination. In a Facebook post the municipality said water samples taken on July 15 showed 'negative' results for contamination. 'The greenish colour of the river was caused by algae,' the post read. 'However, the testing of water quality will be conducted weekly to determine any contamination in the near future.' The green colour of the river sparked concern among farmers and politicians, prompting calls for an urgent investigation into the cause of the discolouration.
