![Makiba holding a picture of herself before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2023-04/makiba-50.jpg?itok=-6n7kO-v)
History Did Not Repeat Itself with Makiba
In the shadow of unthinkable tragedy, Smile Train helped turn sorrow into hope
![Jian holding a picture of herself as a baby, before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2023-01/jian-50.jpg?itok=vcI1yn22)
![Yohanes and his mother smiling and holding a picture of him before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2023-01/yohanes-50.jpg?itok=lP601sFF)
Never Sleep on Yohanes
More proof that nothing is stronger than a mother’s love
![Marciel with Ernie, Jr. and Ermalen before their cleft surgeries](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-10/pacatang-free-cleft-surgery-philippines-50.jpg?itok=t0vB0XJq)
Maricel: Both My Daughters Have Clefts and I Consider Myself the Luckiest Mom on Earth
![Jula smiling in front of some plants](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-01/julia-capilli-plants-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-philippines-smile-train.jpg?itok=D9IoX0Bz)
Julia: A Rare and Beautiful Flower
How Smile Train helped a budding artist bloom through the unimaginable
![Dr. Bethel Ethiopia](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-10/oral-health-training-group%20%283%29.png?itok=U7-5uG3Q)
Untold Stories
In Ethiopia, Dr. Bethel and Smile Train are changing the narrative around malnutrition.
Sebastian: From Nine Days to Live to Chubby Baby
After Pamela's delivery, the nurses told her that her son, Sebastian, only had nine days to live. She was devastated. She didn’t know where to turn. Then she was referred to Smile Train's local partner, Fundacion Ninos que Rien.
![Smile Train patient Smile Rai with his parents, who are holding a picture of him before his free cleft surgery in Nepal](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-09/smile-rai-with-family-after-smile-train-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-nepal.jpg?itok=UkUr4Lj3)
Destiny’s Smile
Even knowing help is available isn’t always enough to remove the stigma of having a cleft.
![Mrighna with her mother after free Smile Train cleft surgery in Nepal](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-07/mrighna-with-mother-after-free-smile-train-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-nepal.jpg?itok=eJUmQDrP)
A Mother Learns to Trust
![Santi standing proud at work](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-05/santi-header.jpg?itok=1akchfpM)
Santi: “Dream Big; Don’t Stop”
For adults with clefts, a smile also means fulfilling work with dignity.
![David's mom holds an image her son before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-02/david-holds-before.jpg?itok=BWHeD1_B)
David’s Cleft Journey in His Mother’s Words
Magaly is the mother of David, age five, a Smile Train patient in Quito, Ecuador. She shared with us her son’s journey to cleft care and what Smile Train has meant for her entire family.