Sumaiya A., 15

Sumaiya Akter is a kind, determined, and hardworking 15-year-old girl who continues to attend school and care for her two younger sisters and younger brother despite the challenges she has faced since birth. Her father, Korim Mia, is a low-income farmer whose limited earnings are barely enough to provide food, education, and basic necessities for the family, making the cost of specialized cleft palate surgery completely unaffordable. Because of her cleft palate, Sumaiya has struggled with speaking clearly and eating comfortably, and she has often been teased by others, which has affected her confidence and emotional well-being. The family learned about Helpster Charity through volunteer Md. Jamilur Reza, who gave them hope that she could finally receive the treatment she desperately needs. Without timely palatoplasty surgery, Sumaiya may continue to suffer from speech difficulties, nutritional problems, recurrent infections, social isolation, and long-term physical and emotional complications, limiting her ability to reach her full potential and achieve her dream of a brighter future.

On 14 June 2026, Sumaiya Akter's father learned about the free medical treatment program offered by Helpster Charity and immediately brought his daughter to Modern Hospital for treatment. Upon her arrival, Sumaiya Akter was promptly examined by an attending physician. After assessing her condition, the doctor recommended several diagnostic tests and concluded that Palatoplasty under General Anesthesia (GA) was necessary. All the required tests were completed, and she was admitted to the hospital for surgery on the same day, 14 June 2026. The operation was successfully performed without complications. Following the surgery, Sumaiya Akter gradually recovered under the careful supervision of the doctors and the regular follow-up care provided by the nursing staff. On 17 June 2026, she was discharged from the hospital in stable condition and safely returned home. Sumaiya Akter's parents are extremely happy about her recovery. During this difficult time, they felt truly fortunate to receive support from Helpster Charity. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Helpster Charity for standing by their family and also extended their sincere thanks to the entire medical team at Modern Hospital for their dedicated care, compassion, and support throughout her treatment and recovery.

According to the treating doctors, Palatoplasty under General Anesthesia (GA) will permanently repair Sumaiya Akter’s Cleft Palate, improving the structure and function of the palate, thereby enhancing her ability to eat, swallow, and speak more clearly. With timely surgery, she is expected to achieve better speech development, improved feeding and swallowing, and a significantly enhanced quality of life. If left untreated, the condition may continue to cause persistent feeding and swallowing difficulties, speech impairment, recurrent ear and upper respiratory infections, poor nutritional status, and long-term functional and psychosocial complications. Therefore, early surgical treatment is essential to protect her health and overall well-being.