Prerna’s Story: From Hiding to Hope
In a small village in Bihar, a little girl named Prerna Kumari was born.
She should have been welcomed with songs and blessings. But when her family saw her face, silence filled the room. Prerna had been born with a cleft lip and palate.
Instead of celebration, there were whispers. In a community where myths run deep, people looked not at the child, but at the mother.
- “She must have broken a ritual.”
- “This is a curse on the family.”
Her mother carried the weight of blame she did not deserve. Feeding Prerna was a struggle. Milk spilled through her nose, and every meal became a battle between hunger and exhaustion.
Her father, a farm laborer, worked hard but earned little. The thought of expensive treatment in the city seemed like a dream too far away.
For five years, Prerna grew up with her family shielding her from the world, hiding her from curious eyes and cruel comments.
The Journey: A Ray of Possibility
One day, a relative told them about a free cleft surgery mission in Kolkata.
It sounded unbelievable. Could there really be people who would help children like Prerna without asking for money they did not have?
Her parents hesitated but finally borrowed what little they could and began the long journey from Bihar to Kolkata. They carried simple food for the train ride and hearts full of fear.
When they arrived, something unexpected happened. The doctors and volunteers greeted them with kindness, not pity. For the first time, Prerna’s mother felt her daughter was seen not as a curse, but as a child full of promise.
Surgery: The First Smile
In November 2024, Prerna underwent her first surgery.
When her parents saw her after the operation, they were speechless. The tear on her lip was gone. Her face now carried the smile they had always dreamed of.
Her mother held her tightly, crying tears she had been holding back for five long years. “You are my Prerna,” she whispered. “My inspiration.”
Back in the village, everything changed. Neighbors who once avoided them now came asking questions. The whispers were no longer about blame, but about hope.
Recovery: A New Beginning
A few months later, Prerna returned for her palate surgery. Once again, the team treated her with dignity and care, restoring not just her smile, but her ability to eat and speak with ease.
Today, Prerna is thriving. She enjoys her meals, plays outside with the other children, and is beginning to speak words clearly. She laughs often, smiles freely, and no longer hides behind her mother’s sari.
Transformation: A Family Reborn
For her father, who once bowed his head in shame, there is now pride.
For her mother, who once carried the burden of blame, there is now joy.
And for Prerna, there is a future filled with possibility.
This is not just surgery. It is dignity restored. It is shame broken. It is the freedom to smile.
Be Part of the Change
You can be part of this change. For every Prerna, there are hundreds of children in Bihar and across India still waiting – still being blamed, still suffering, still hoping someone will come.
When you give, you don’t just fund a procedure. You change a life. You change a family. You change a community.
Support us and give every child what they deserve – a chance to smile.