We are delighted to share some inspirational patient stories from Operation Childlife clinical missions in early 2025.

Operation Childlife completed three clinical missions in early 2025, the first was in February when a team of four paediatric experts in Cardiothoracic surgery, Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology visited Children’s Hospital Number 2. in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for one week. 

Above is baby Janay, just one week old, the day after his life-saving Pulmonary Atresia Perforation performed by Operation Childlife volunteers.  Without this this procedure his heart wouldn’t be able to pump oxygenated blood to the body and his chance of surviving until adulthood would have been very slim.

This was the first of two visits planned for 2025 to the open-heart programme at Children’s Hospital No.2, which was opened by Operation Childlife volunteers in 2010, with support from Irish Aid and our partners in Vietnam, the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.   Prior to the creation of this programme, over 500 children died each year from congenital heart disease and lack of access to care. 

In March two volunteer teams visited Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania.  The first visit was focused on Urology, and the second was focused on Oncology and General Surgery.

Above are OCL Volunteer Dr Alshafei, Consultant Paediatric surgeon and Urologist,  with Keegan and his father.  Keegan is an 8-year-old boy who waited a whole year for his final hypospadias surgery, a procedure that would normally be completed during infancy in Ireland.  Keegan faced a long and difficult path, undergoing 9 previous unsuccessful surgeries before finally receiving definitive treatment and his successful surgery, performed by Dr AlShafei.  Without treatment, severe hypospadias can lead to problems with urination, and by adulthood, difficulties with sexual function and fertility.  

Above are Naswirinia and Prof. Martin Corbally Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and Operation Childlife founder.  When Operation Childlife volunteers first meet baby Naswirinia in 2024 she was severely malnourished as she was born with a very narrowed lower oesophagus and could not eat or swallow.  The Operation Childlife team, led by Prof. Corbally, advised their colleagues in Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam to feed Naswirinia directly into her stomach (gastrostomy).    When Prof. Corbally returned a year later, she was much stronger, and the team performed a successful esophageal dilatation.  Naswirinia, is now able to swallow food normally and it is hoped that after a few more dilatations she will not require any surgical intervention.