Selam and her mother recount their cleft treatment journey with Project Harar

Selam is one of the children that came to Woldia Comprehensive Specialized Hospital to receive cleft palate surgery. Selam had her cleft lip surgery through one of our missions held at at Woldia when she was one year old. Selam lives with her elder sister and mother. We sat with her mother, Thethay,to discuss her experiences and journey in accessing cleft lip and palate treatment with Project Harar.

It is always vital to receive feedback from the families who access our services, as it helps us to further understand how we can adapt our cleft treatments to accommodate all families who need treatment for their child. Whether it is the changing environment, climate, or unique situations with the family, Project Harar and partnering hospitals always make sure to keep in contact with our clients to better facilitate them and those to come.

“After her cleft lip surgery I was beyond happy. I took her home and followed the procedures they told me and the wound healed very well that you cannot tell she had a surgery. In addition, people who saw her before the surgery were amazed and they say it just looks like a birthmark. ”
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— Selam's mother

Questions for Selam's mother:

Can you introduce your child and yourself?

Her name is Selam and my name is Thehay.

Where do you travel from?

We came from Lalibela. My birthplace is Lalibela but living closer now.

Tigist did have cleft lip surgery before. Where did she receive the surgery?

She received the surgery here at Woldia hospital when she was one year old.

Where did you hear about the mission?

First, I saw it on TV then I came to Woldia hospital to register after that they called and informed me about the date of the surgery.

How did you feel when she was first born, and when you saw her for the first time?

When she was first born I was scared and did not know what to do, I thought she was the only one born this way. I have never seen a child born this way before and I was not aware of cleft lip or palate before that.

I gave birth to her at Woldia hospital and when I asked the doctors what to do, They explained everything to me and gave me a referral letter to take her to Addis  Ababa, Black Lion (Tikur Anbessa) hospital first. As her weight was small, they told me she could not have the surgery. Then after that, I took her to Debre Berhan. When we reached  Debre Berhan hospital, she had cold and sore throat and again they could not operate on her. Then I took her back home, after a while I saw the advertisement on TV of Project Harar's programme at Woldia Hospital and I brought her here for her surgery.

How was the community’s outlook do they ask you a lot about her?

/When people see her for the first time they asked me if I dropped her or, something else. In addition, others say I must have taken some medication when I was pregnant with her. However, I was very careful when I was pregnant and did not take any medications. Some people also mention it could be a hereditary thing from my side or my spouse’s side of a family.

What did you feel when she had her cleft lip surgery?

I am very happy that she is getting the surgery now before she goes to school. I know the challenges or problems she would have faced if she did not get the surgery. I have went through a lot raising her by my own.

My spouse left me before she was born so I had to work hard to provide for her and her sister while following up her medical treatments. 

Did you face difficulties feeding her when she was a baby?

Yes, the food would often come through her nose. She was never breastfed, I raised her with powdered milk.

“One of my biggest challenge was feeding her. As she had both cleft lip and palate, feeding her properly was challenging for me and as a result, her weight was too little most of the time. After a while, I started using bottles and syringes to feed her which helped a lot.”

How about after she had her cleft lip surgery?

After her cleft lip surgery, I was beyond happy. I took her home and followed the procedures they told me and the wound healed very well that you cannot tell she had surgery. In addition, people who saw her before the surgery were amazed and they say it just looks like a birthmark. After her cleft lip surgery, she can eat properly but still, her palate was challenging as food come through her nose sometimes and she struggles on making full sentences when she speaks.

Is she currently attending school?

No, she is not at the moment, but I am planning on sending her next year after her surgery.

Do you have other children?

I have another older daughter I have two children, including Selam.

What is your wish for her when she grows up?

In the future, I hope she attends her school and becomes what she desires. I am very grateful for the coordinators of the programme who have helped me through the process starting from Debre Berhan they were very helpful and considerate of our situation so again thank you very much.

Finally, if you have anyone you want to highlight, here's your chance! 

I really what to thank Mr. Nigatu he was the one who helped me a lot. I have also taken her to Debre Berhan before and he was very understanding and cooperative. Thank you all for your help.

Have you gone to other areas for the surgery before?

Yes, I have taken her to Debre Berha. When we reached Debre Berhan hospital, she had a cold and sore throat and they could not operate on her. Therefore, I took her back home. Moreover, before that, I took her to Addis Abeba when she was just born and they told me that she was too small to have the surgery back then. Finally, she received the surgery here at Woldia hospital. And through it, all the coordinators were very helpful and thoughtful may God bless their life.