THE news about Interplast surgeons coming to Fiji was the answer to the prayers of Eremasi Vakameau and Amelia Loganuku of Tabia in Labasa.
Their eldest son, Peni Misipopi, had suffered a cleft palate condition since birth.
"My wife had difficulty breast-feeding him since birth," Mr Vakameau said.
He said milk used to flow out of Peni's nose as he was breast-fed and he could only swallow a little at a time.
Mr Vakameau said his sister, a Labasa Hospital nurse, heard about the plastic surgeons' visit and told him about it.
"My wife couldn't come so I had to bring Peni to Suva," he said.
They discovered the cleft palate two months after Peni was born.
"Even the doctors didn't know he had the condition when he was born," he said.
They were saddened by the discovery but prayed for a chance for treatment since they couldn't take Peni overseas.
Mr Vakameau said Peni used to talk but the words were not clear.
"He had difficulty pronouncing," Mr Vakameau said.
But now that surgery has been done, he wants to take Peni home to his mother.
A team of three professionals were in Fiji for two weeks to treat patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, face and hand tumour and burn contractures.
Senior plastic surgeon, Dr Simon Thomson, said they spent about $A50,000 on the trip to Fiji and that it was a good experience for them.
The team comes to Fiji every year.