It's hard to imagine growing up without being able to smile, fortunately for Arat de Jesús Sánchez Vazquez thanks to the generosity of Smile Train donors and wonderful partner hospital, Centro Medico ABC, he has been able to grow up just like any other boy. Arat was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. And now, 9 years later, he is as happy as ever.
When Arat was born, his mother was scared at the life that awaited her son and how the world would treat him because of his cleft lip and palate. With the love and support of her family, she turned those fears into strength and determination to find help for Arat. Arat received free Smile Train cleft surgery and was enrolled into full cleft treatment and follow-ups, which he has been going to ever since.
The family bond runs deep in Arat's family, and he spends most of his free time playing with his cousins and the dogs that they share. He is a very self-confident boy who is not afraid to live, explore and enjoy life!
Having seen his baby pictures from before his cleft was repaired, Arat knows how lucky he is not just for the cleft surgery he had, but his loving family — and everyday he finds a new reason to smile.
Through the great cleft care that he has had and continues to receive, Arat has been able to go to school, play, scrape his knees, laugh, and smile.
The one thing he is missing? The note from his ear doctor that says he can finally join the swim team! Once he has that, who knows, maybe he'll turn into Smile Train's first Olympic Athlete. For Arat, the sky is the limit.
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