Creating Smiles,
Improving Lives

“Make the best of every day and appreciate every day you have”                       ~Linda Morrow Austin Smiles – The Austin Plastic Surgery Foundation was officially formed in 1987. That year, Linda Morrow was working in the Main Operating Room at St. David’s...

“All you need is faith and trust and a little bit of pixie dust!” ~ Peter Pan The need is great here in El Salvador, but there are only so many patients the Austin Smiles surgeons can squeeze into the four very long days of surgery this week. Most of the spots are...

When Isaiah was born 4 months ago with a severe cleft lip, the staff in the maternity ward informed his mother, Maria, that Austin Smiles might be able to help him during the scheduled trip to El Salvador in June. She had hope. Maria and her baby Isaiah live more than...

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ~ Benjamin Franklin Volunteering is often a transformative experience – we gain as much if not more than we give. This Austin Smiles trip no doubt will be a particularly transformative...

“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into a reality.” ~ Jonas Salk Cameras flashed and there were welcoming embraces from our hosts this morning as our team of 42 Austin Smiles volunteers arrived at the hospital for...

Warm hugs, bright smiles, and a few yawns welcomed the 43rd Austin Smiles’ Team to Austin Bergstrom Airport early this morning. Amid the piles of personal luggage and red supply trunks, Kendyl, Martha & Leilani sorted people, passports and boarding passes through...

The story of Ian's supportive grandmother Special Guest Blogger: Jacquelin Sandoval There are medical miracles that many times we can’t explain…hint, that’s why they are referred to as miracles. Yesterday as I walked out of the operating room, I walked past the dark...

This post is dedicated to the men and women in the nursing profession Special Guest Blogger: Jacquelin Sandoval Day 1 was a busy day for the Austin Smiles team; a total of 12 surgeries were completed during the course of the day. As I sit under the warm Guatemalan sun...

By Special Guest Blogger: Jacquelin Sandoval As the doctors raced between rooms clearing patients for tomorrow’s surgeries, I met a sweet boy named Jonathan. He was a quiet and mild manner 4 year old boy from the rural side of Guatemala. His happiness could simply...

Day 6-7: Puebla 2014 - Mission Complete! One of our RN team members said it best, "Puebla. Fantastic people, long hot OR days, mole galore, really old pyramids, ornate churches, steaming volcanoes, artistic talavera, and some fun nights to name a few highlights. Most...