Claudio Pays It Forward

Claudio, 35, struggled his entire life to access cleft care.

His parents did all they could when he was a baby, even paying for several cleft procedures with the modest family budget. But the treatment they were able to find was ineffective, and after his sisters were born, they could no longer afford to send him for follow-up appointments.

Claudio was an attentive student in school. Sadly, he was also bullied for how he spoke because his cleft made certain sounds difficult to pronounce. He learned to lean on his close friends and family for love and support.

“Now that I’m older, I understand that the problem is never with you — it’s with the people making fun of you. Because of jealousy or whatever else, they see a weak point and they attack it. Even now, I still face bullying, but I don’t pay it any mind,” he said.

Claudio grew up and became a taxi driver, living with his sisters and parents in Villa El Salvador, a humble, bustling district on the outskirts of Lima.

When foreign doctors flew into Peru on short-term cleft missions, he always signed up. He thought it was the only way he could receive the cleft surgery he missed out on as a child. But every time, they gave priority to babies and young patients, leaving him to wait again and again and again.

When Claudio discovered Misión Caritas Felices, a local Smile Train partner, his story finally took a happy turn. He received the cleft palate surgery, dental care, and speech therapy he had sought his entire life — all for free thanks to the generosity of Smile Train donors.

Claudio’s first move after starting cleft care? Paying it forward.

He now offers his taxi services to Misión Caritas Felices, helping them transport patients, families, documents, and whatever else they needed.

“I like to give back after everything they have done for me. It makes me proud.”

As Claudio continues with his comprehensive cleft care, he reflects on how far he has come in his healing journey.

“When I was young, my mother was afraid. She thought I might die. She had no information on clefts or specialists, and like with anything unknown, she was scared.

“I thank Misión Caritas Felices, all the doctors, nurses, speech therapists, dentists, and volunteers,” he continued. “If it were not for them, I would not have had cleft surgery, and neither would many other patients. I thank Smile Train for the support they have given me and thousands of other patients.”