![Mustafa with his parents before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2023-02/mustafa-50.jpg?itok=VUA3K2Th)
They Held Mustafa Close, Then They Embraced Him
How Smile Train helped one family move from shock to smiles
Susanna Finds Her Voice
Denied care as a child, she had to relearn to speak at age 20
![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)
With Every Breath, Esvin Defies the Odds
His family thought a child like him could never make it. Then they encountered Smile Train
![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
![Immaculata before surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-08/immaculata.jpg?itok=9nujHcsl)
Immaculata: How a Mother's Faith Brought Hope and New Beginnings
A story of maternal love and faith bringing a family light out of darkness
![Sama](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-05/sama-smiling-after-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-smile-train-egypt-50_0.jpg?itok=hJqFIEfi)
Sama’s Mother Never Gave Up on Her. Neither Will We
Where there’s a mother’s love, there’s always hope
![Sondos with her orthodontist](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-05/sondos-with-orthodontist-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-care-egypt-smile-train-50.jpg?itok=CCNT3voD)
Against All Odds, Sondos Designs a Future
Nearly starved at birth, orphaned at five, bullied relentlessly, Sondos has survived a lot in nine years. Now she’s ready to thrive
![Opeyemi riding on his mother's back](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-02/opeyemi-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-smile-train-nigeria-50.jpg?itok=WOfx3al0)
Opeyemi: Families, Like Smiles, Come in Many Forms
![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
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.