It is hard to succinctly capture the impact a group like Operation International’s Team Cleft Repair can have during one of their mission trips.  

Counseling parents sometimes before a child is even born, when parents first learn of their diagnosis, the team’s presence in a family’s life begins long before volunteers touch down at the hospital in Vietnam. Then, during a week of long, exhausting days at the hospital, the team guides families through a life-changing surgery, whether their first or the latest in a series of procedures.

For many of these young patients, the encounter with Team Cleft Repair is far from the last. In addition to months of virtual follow-up care and counseling, the team will see some young patients for more surgeries in the following years, becoming a touchstone of hope for families in their cleft lip and palate repair journey.

“We’re not just repairing clefts; we are mending families, giving them hope for a future unburdened by the rejection and isolation,” says Team Leader Myhanh Nguyen. “…The bonds we form here are deep. They go beyond the operating room, beyond the scalpel and sutures. They’re forged in the quiet moments of reassurance, in the tearful embraces of parents whose hope has been restored, in the joy of a child discovering their own reflection for the first time. These moments remind me why we fight through the fatigue, the chaos, and the long days.”

In its 2024 mission, Team Cleft Repair performed 39 of these inspiring surgeries in just five days. Let’s meet just some of the patients whose lives were forever changed:

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Bánh Bao

A perfect encapsulation of the bonds formed during these missions was Bánh Bao, the youngest baby treated by Team Cleft Repair on their first mission in 2023. The baby, affectionately nicknamed for her chubby, dumpling-like cheeks, had undergone a successful lip repair last year and returned to see the team for a palate repair.

“It was like welcoming back a family member, with many of our volunteers recognizing her immediately,” Myhanh wrote. “This is why we return year after year—the bonds we form with these children and their families are unbreakable. Each child, whether we call them "Bánh Bao," "Air Bender," or "Buddha Baby," leaves a lasting mark on our hearts.”

Bánh’s palate repair was successful and was one of many returning patients during the 2024 mission.

“These children have a special place in my heart. I’ve watched them grow from tiny infants to lively, mischievous toddlers, each one carrying the scars of their journey with a strength that belies their age,” Myhanh said.

Like many of the parents of the young children treated, Bánh’s family offered kind words after the surgery.

“Thank you for changing my child’s life for the better,” they wrote Myhanh after the mission. “Please send my sincere thanks to the doctor who treated my child the surgical team and everyone on the team have supported and loved our dumpling! Thank you so much for everyone’s enthusiasm, joy and love.”

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Mai Le

While many receiving Team Cleft Repair’s care are young babies and toddlers, the patient’s ages can range into adulthood. One such patient was Mai Le, a 19-year-old young woman.

Mai Le had been abandoned at an orphanage as an infant and had undergone five prior surgeries for her physical defect. The previous procedures had left her with a malformed nose and extensive scarring.

“The complexity of her case weighed heavily on our surgical team. Dr. Johannet  and Dr. Wu meticulously worked to give her the most natural result possible,” Myhanh said. “Her dream was simple: 'I just want to look normal.' For Mai Le, this surgery was more than cosmetic—it was a chance at a future filled with hope.”

As with the rest of the 39 surgeries completed during the week, Mai Le’s procedure was successful.

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Thảo Ly

Another patient on the older side was Thảo Ly, a 13-year-old girl who suffered a facial scar from a bike accident.

Her journey with Team Cleft Repair began on their first mission in 2023. Myhanh remembers how, back then, Thảo seemed fearful and shy.

“She always hid her face and…clung to me from fear, stopping halfway to the OR to cry,” she wrote.

But when Thảo returned to Hue Hospital to see Team Cleft Repair for scar revisions this year, that fear was gone, Myhanh said.

“She posed for photos on her way to the OR, her confidence radiating with every step,” Myhanh wrote. “...It’s clear her spirit has already healed in ways we can’t measure.

Thảo’s scar revision procedure was successful.

Ngọc Huyền

Ngọc is a 21-year-old who has a Tessier Type 4 facial cleft, a type of severe cleft that impacts more than the lip and upper jaw. The condition has left a deep mark on Ngọc’s life, including five previous surgeries that left severe scarring.

Team Cleft Repair began revision of Ngọc’s scars during their mission trip and were able to smooth away some of the physical remnants of her previous surgeries. Next year, they will return to perform surgery on her lower eyelids.

The series of surgeries will help further empower Ngọc’s already inspiring journey in life.

“Despite her facial deformities, Ngọc Huyền is relentlessly determined to break the cycle of poverty that surrounds her,” Myhanh wrote. “She is in college, self-reliant, and pursuing a career in education. She believes that her reconstructive surgeries will help her become more accepted by her future students, and we’re here to help her achieve that goal.”

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Y Gia Sua

Another example of the challenges faced by many of the patients Team Cleft Repair sees was Y Gia Sua, an 8-month-old baby girl from the village of Sa Tay, Kon-Tum. Y Gia Sua was rejected by her father and relatives because of her facial deformity and is now cared for by her teenage mother.

Despite the inspiring dedication of his mother–-who makes a treacherous journey from her mountain village to a local church each month for formula to feed Y Gia Sua–-the baby’s cleft lip and palate have made feeding her nearly impossible.

When Y Gia Sua arrived to see Team Cleft Repair, severely underweight and dehydrated, the team at first was unable to start an IV for her procedure given her condition. She was instead admitted for rehydration and scheduled for the surgery later in the week. After a few days, the team tried again.

“After being well-rested, rehydrated, and bolstered by the prayers of the church volunteer who accompanied her, the surgery went on without a hitch,” Myhanh wrote. “I watched as her mother, overwhelmed with emotion, whispered through tears, ‘I hope her father and grandparents will now accept her.’ Her words carried the weight of a thousand hopes, a mother’s plea for her child to be seen, loved, and embraced.”

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Pling Lim

Pling, a young man who came to Team Cleft Repair during their first mission in 2023, suffered from a poorly repaired cleft lip and an unrepaired cleft palate that made his communication difficult. Back then, his work as a barber was hindered by a speech impediment and he relied on writing down his thoughts to communicate with the team.

But after a successful palate repair in 2023, Pling’s communication had already greatly improved when he returned for more care from the team on their 2024 mission.

“Today, he communicates effortlessly with us, no longer needing a pen and paper,” Myhanh said.

On their 2024 trip, Pling received a successful lip repair and cleft rhinoplasty.

"His hope? To look more handsome, so he can find a wife” Myhanh said. “Judging by the post-surgery selfie he took, I have no doubt we’ll soon be back to attend his wedding. His transformation, both inside and out, is a testament to the power of this mission.”

Pling’s gratitude to Team Cleft Repair was demonstrated even further later in the week when he made a special stop at their hotel to say his goodbyes before returning to his village.

“As we prepared to board the shuttle, Pling grabbed Dr. [Fernando] Almas’ hands, bowing deeply, touching his forehead to Dr. Almas’ hands in a profound gesture of respect and gratitude. It was a moment that will stay with us long after this mission ends. Pling now walks toward his future with confidence,” Myhanh wrote.

In addition to its 39 successful procedures, Team Cleft Repair’s second mission in Vietnam included a donation of essential medical equipment to the local hospital and two training sessions, including a comprehensive lecture on cleft and palate care and a Q&A session for the local anesthesiology residents. The team also started a nursing education initiative, with nurse educator Lam K Trần dedicating the week to education seminars on wound care, rapid response, and performing a thorough needs assessment for future nursing education programs.

But even with a successful mission in the books, the work doesn’t stop. The weeks since the trip have included important follow-up care and consultations with patients, as well as the start of preparations for next year’s trip.

“Though this mission has ended, our work is far from finished,” Myhanh said. “New patients are anxiously awaiting our return, and current patients are eager for the next stages of their surgeries. The preparations for our next mission have already begun.”

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