![Akuya smiling while holding a picture of herself before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-12/akuya-50.jpg?itok=87ES-4Qh)
“She Is Our Pride and What Gave Us Strength”
How a family from rural Togo overcame superstition and fear to get their daughter the care she needed
![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
![Dr. Gergorie Akakpo-Numado](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-10/gregorie-akakpo-numado-headshot-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-togo-chu-smile-train.jpg?itok=FTqR2vLg)
Dr. Grégoire Akakpo-Numado: Smile Train’s Model is Life or Death for My Patients
![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
![A German Christmas market](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-12/german-midwife-smile-train-christmas-market.jpg?itok=gRQZsMFx)
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.
![Hector Daniel held by his family](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-06/hector-looks-forward.jpg?itok=ciFZXyX-)
We Are Smiles in El Salvador
When their son's life was changed forever, Héctor Rivas and Karen wanted to give the same relief to families across El Salvador.
![A child with an untreated cleft lip in Philippines](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-04/ingred-patient-philippines.png?itok=2aMyaHiT)
Nourishing Hope in the Philippines
Dr. Ingrid Leal lends her expertise to improve nutrition programs in the Philippines