Ali Muhammad’s Journey to a New Smile

A ray of hope shines through Ali Muhammad’s eyes — a reflection of a man who has spent his life helping others despite carrying his own silent pain. Ali Muhammad, a resident of Tharparkar, was born in 1946 with a bilateral cleft lip.

Life in Tharparkar

Tharparkar, part of the Great Indian Desert spanning Pakistan and India, covers nearly 200,000 km², with about 96% of the population living in rural areas. Due to the harsh desert climate, most families depend on livestock for survival, resulting in widespread financial instability. The region frequently faces droughts, malnutrition, and limited access to healthcare. Only around 30% of the population has access to clean drinking water, and child mortality remains a serious concern.

The poverty and suffering in this region motivated Smile Home Trust to organize a free cleft surgery camp in Tharparkar. In collaboration with Smile Train, surgeries were arranged at a well-equipped hospital in Mithi, the district headquarters.

Meeting Ali Muhammad

During an awareness campaign in various areas of Thar, our team met Ali Muhammad at an OPD camp in Judho, where he arrived with one of his sons, a local schoolteacher.

When asked about his life experiences, Ali Muhammad took a deep breath, tears filling his eyes, and quietly said, “Let bygones be bygones.” After a pause, he shared that he had been called many offensive names throughout his life and was still identified by his facial deformity rather than his name. With a heavy heart, he added, “One must hide the grief and carry on — we cannot change our destiny.”

A Grandfather’s Pain

When asked why he chose surgery at this stage of life, his voice trembled. As a father, he had always received love and respect from his children. But now, as a grandfather, things had changed. He felt heartbroken when his grandchildren avoided him due to his appearance. He longed to play with them as he once did with his own children, but fear and misunderstanding kept them distant.

(Even on CNIC cleft lip is stated as his Identity Sign)

He admitted that he had never felt so incomplete or rejected before. For him, the surgery was not just medical treatment — it was his only hope for acceptance among his grandchildren and society.

A Life-Changing Surgery

When Ali Muhammad learned about Smile Home Trust’s free cleft surgical mission in Thar, he saw a chance to break free from decades of stigma. Even before entering the operating room, he believed this surgery would transform his life.

After the successful procedure, he emerged with renewed confidence and gratitude. He praised the medical team for providing this life-changing treatment free of cost, restoring not only his appearance but also his dignity.

A Smile Restored

Three months later, during a routine follow-up visit, our volunteers saw a different Ali Muhammad — smiling brightly and happily playing with his grandchildren.

When asked how he felt, he said:
“Thanks to Smile Home Trust and your team, life is good now.”