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.
Meet Nigeria's Sing and Smile Club
Empowering Cleft Moms in Nigeria
First it was their children. Now, Smile Train partner GSI is giving cleft moms unimagined opportunity, too.
![WACS surgeons in bright Smile Train scrubs](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-07/wacs-surgeons-smile-train.jpg?itok=gW7DC_9H)
Building Capacity Through Education
How Dr. Aliyu Farinyaro and Dr. Amaka Ehighibe are Leading the Way
![Smile Train patient Demaris from Kenya holds a picture of herself before her free cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-07/damaris-holding-photo-before-free-smile-train-cleft-lip-cleft-palate-surgery-kenya.jpg?itok=g5glTJIO)
Determined Damaris
Even when the whole world seemed against her, Damaris persisted. And won.
![Annointed with his mother, Favour, after his cleft surgery.](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-05/annointed-with-mother-after-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-nigeria.jpg?itok=uWuEc449)
Annointed for Greatness
The story of a cleft mother’s bravery, in her own words.
![Livingstone with his friends after cleft lip and cleft palate surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-02/livingstone-with-friends-after-cleft-lip-cleft-palate-treatment.jpg?itok=zhxVMF1U)
Livingstone Clings to Life
Cleft surgery was only one piece of Livingstone's journey from malnourished baby to star of his village.
![Cristian holds one of his dogs](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-01/cristiang-w-dog.jpg?itok=S7mAGUVV)
Healing Heartbreak with a Smile (Dogs Help, Too)
Angelica was 15 years old, single, and had just given birth to a baby with a cleft. All she knew about clefts was how she had seen people with them harassed without mercy. But she promised to never give up on the little life before her.
![Monica holding an image of herself as a child](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-01/monica-holding-before-image-super.jpg?itok=ga-5c3ew)
Monica’s Inner Strength Shows in Her Smile
Monica has been through more than any child should, but today she shines bright.
![Maria before her cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-01/maria-before-surgery-super.jpg?itok=cIdu5sXn)
It’s Never Too Late to Dream
Maria has been waiting for cleft surgery since 1953. When the opportunity came, her son wanted her to pass.
![Pilar poses with speech patient](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-02/pilar-cleft-speech.jpg?itok=Vs_UWq6c)
Dr. Maria del Pilar Echeverri: Revolutionizing Cleft Care in Colombia
Dr. Echeverri founded FISULAB in the belief that all aspects of cleft care are equal.