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 her to Modern Hospital. After examination and necessary diagnostic tests, the attending physician advised Palatoplasty under General Anesthesia (GA). Sumaiya was admitted and successfully underwent surgery on the same day without complications. Following the operation, she gradually recovered under the careful supervision of doctors and regular nursing care. On 17 June 2026, she was discharged in stable condition and safely returned home. Her parents expressed heartfelt gratitude to Helpster Charity and the entire medical team at Modern Hospital for their compassionate care, dedicated support, and assistance 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.