Creating Smiles, Improving Lives

Veracruz 2017, Kenia

June 14, 2017

Kenia – Written and Photography by Natalie deLeon

There are no words to describe the day-in-the-life of a patient and a parent who come for surgery with us at Austin Smiles. Below is the couple of days-in-the-life of Kenia and her mom. Kenia is 9-months-old, from a small town four hours from Veracruz. They arrived solely for Austin Smiles with help from the Rotarian to receive cleft-lip surgery. There is love, tears, smiles, and thoughtfulness throughout.

Every parent reacts differently to their child’s surgery. This case was special because both mom and baby have cleft-lip and palate and both were done by non-profit organizations. I want to say thank you to Kenia and her mom for letting me be a part of such a special moment for baby Kenia!

If you would like to donate to our Veracruz trip and others like this please donate here!

1 in 700 children are born with a cleft lip or palate

$250 covers the cost of one life-changing surgery

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