Smile Foundation's 25 years of changing lives
Smile Foundation director Marc Lubner, left, 17-month-old Zaylin Jantjies, with mother Amy, and the first beneficiary of the Smile Foundation Thando Manyathi. Picture: Michel Bega
Twenty-five years ago, Thando Manyathi's mother wrote a letter to former president Nelson Mandela asking for help with her seven-year-old daughter's lower facial paralysis.
Manyathi suffered from moebius syndrome, which left her without any facial expression.
The beginning of the Smile Foundation
Mandela reached out to philanthropist Marc Lubner, who at the time was with the Young Presidents' Organisation.
The two intervened and after much research and investigation, decided rather than sending Manyathi overseas for surgery, it would be best to bring the world's leading surgeons to South Africa and, in turn, help train local medical professionals, which would see this become an ongoing effort.
The face of a national legacy
Today, Manyathi smiles readily and confidently holds a receptionist job at the Smile Foundation.
After going through various medical procedures Manyathi completed a number of administrative courses and computer skills training programmes.
She also worked through a number of different departments within the Smile Foundation and Lubner's other charity, Afrika Tikkun.
Spending time in the presence of Manyathi, Lubner and his associates recognised that she possessed a lot of love and joy and realised that Manyathi would be ideally suited to being 'the face' of their company – at the helm of the front desk.
Thousands of lives changed
She is among about 1 500 beneficiaries of the Smile Foundation's 25 years of efforts to provide life-changing reconstructive surgery to underserved communities.
This week, as part of Smile Week at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital where it all started 25 years ago, 14 children will receive surgeries that will give them new smiles, fresh confidence and a hope for the future.
ALSO READ: Baby girl's life saved by surgery
One mother's emotional journey to hope
Among them is 17-month-old Zaylin Jantjies from Fochville, who is receiving cleft palate surgery.
Mother Amy Jantjies said being a beneficiary of the Smile Foundation is life-changing.
'These operations are so expensive and I'm really grateful for them,' said Jantjies.
When describing what it was like finding out her baby had a cleft palate at birth, Jantjies said: 'It was heartbreaking. It was traumatising. It felt like my world did crash. I lost a lot of weight.'
Jantjies goes on to explain how the surgeries have not only helped Zaylin, but also her mental state as a mother.
'After Zaylin's first operation, I started gaining weight again. I feel like my heart is clean. I do still cry about this because it's heartbreaking but at the end of the day, it's also tears of joy because I never thought it was possible for her to become more beautiful than she already was to me. I'm relieved that now no-one will be able to tease her when she grows up.'
Eleven-month-old Gorataone Modise and mom Kgothatso at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital during Smile Week. Picture: Michel Bega
A mother's gratitude
Lubner is quick to point out that the Smile Foundation is just a facilitator of this programme and that it's the surgeons at the hospital that deserve the recognition for their time and skills.
Additionally, Lubner thanks the Vodacom Foundation that has supported the initiative from the start.
Looking back over the 25 years, just before Mandela Day, Lubner recalls how he and Mandela's dream came true.
'This is proof of what's possible when people come together to make a difference, and it's just the beginning of the next chapter.'
*Smile Foundation is a South African non-profit organisation dedicated to providing comprehensive health care for children and families affected by facial conditions and burns.
NOW READ: Smile Foundation give little Caroline a reason to smile
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
5 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
eNCA
18-07-2025
- eNCA
Gauteng hospitals take on cleft palate surgery marathon
JOHANNESBURG - Smile for Madiba. That is what the Gauteng Government and the Smile Foundation is doing this Mandela Day. They are carrying out a cleft palate surgery marathon. It all began 25 years ago, when a mother asked Nelson Mandela to help her daughter with facial paralysis. Thando Manyathi, the first beneficiary, now works for the Smile Foundation. Since then, over 5,000 lives have been changed.
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- The Citizen
Smile Foundation's 25 years of changing lives
What began with a mother's letter to Nelson Mandela has grown into a legacy of free life-changing surgeries, helping over 1 500 children smile with confidence. Smile Foundation director Marc Lubner, left, 17-month-old Zaylin Jantjies, with mother Amy, and the first beneficiary of the Smile Foundation Thando Manyathi. Picture: Michel Bega Twenty-five years ago, Thando Manyathi's mother wrote a letter to former president Nelson Mandela asking for help with her seven-year-old daughter's lower facial paralysis. Manyathi suffered from moebius syndrome, which left her without any facial expression. The beginning of the Smile Foundation Mandela reached out to philanthropist Marc Lubner, who at the time was with the Young Presidents' Organisation. The two intervened and after much research and investigation, decided rather than sending Manyathi overseas for surgery, it would be best to bring the world's leading surgeons to South Africa and, in turn, help train local medical professionals, which would see this become an ongoing effort. The face of a national legacy Today, Manyathi smiles readily and confidently holds a receptionist job at the Smile Foundation. After going through various medical procedures Manyathi completed a number of administrative courses and computer skills training programmes. She also worked through a number of different departments within the Smile Foundation and Lubner's other charity, Afrika Tikkun. Spending time in the presence of Manyathi, Lubner and his associates recognised that she possessed a lot of love and joy and realised that Manyathi would be ideally suited to being 'the face' of their company – at the helm of the front desk. Thousands of lives changed She is among about 1 500 beneficiaries of the Smile Foundation's 25 years of efforts to provide life-changing reconstructive surgery to underserved communities. This week, as part of Smile Week at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital where it all started 25 years ago, 14 children will receive surgeries that will give them new smiles, fresh confidence and a hope for the future. ALSO READ: Baby girl's life saved by surgery One mother's emotional journey to hope Among them is 17-month-old Zaylin Jantjies from Fochville, who is receiving cleft palate surgery. Mother Amy Jantjies said being a beneficiary of the Smile Foundation is life-changing. 'These operations are so expensive and I'm really grateful for them,' said Jantjies. When describing what it was like finding out her baby had a cleft palate at birth, Jantjies said: 'It was heartbreaking. It was traumatising. It felt like my world did crash. I lost a lot of weight.' Jantjies goes on to explain how the surgeries have not only helped Zaylin, but also her mental state as a mother. 'After Zaylin's first operation, I started gaining weight again. I feel like my heart is clean. I do still cry about this because it's heartbreaking but at the end of the day, it's also tears of joy because I never thought it was possible for her to become more beautiful than she already was to me. I'm relieved that now no-one will be able to tease her when she grows up.' Eleven-month-old Gorataone Modise and mom Kgothatso at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital during Smile Week. Picture: Michel Bega A mother's gratitude Lubner is quick to point out that the Smile Foundation is just a facilitator of this programme and that it's the surgeons at the hospital that deserve the recognition for their time and skills. Additionally, Lubner thanks the Vodacom Foundation that has supported the initiative from the start. Looking back over the 25 years, just before Mandela Day, Lubner recalls how he and Mandela's dream came true. 'This is proof of what's possible when people come together to make a difference, and it's just the beginning of the next chapter.' *Smile Foundation is a South African non-profit organisation dedicated to providing comprehensive health care for children and families affected by facial conditions and burns. NOW READ: Smile Foundation give little Caroline a reason to smile
