Creating Smiles,
Improving Lives

Today is the first surgery day! We have 13 surgeries scheduled today and Triage is the place to be first thing in the morning. The patients are already at MPSC, prepped and waiting with their families in the post-op rooms. Anthony leaves the Triage room to grab our...

Hello from Guatemala City! The team's all here! Day 1 started bright and early as we gathered for breakfast at 6:15AM before making our way to the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center (MPSC) where the entire MPSC team greeted us outside. We had a quick tour of the facility...

As the last patient is wheeled to recovery, boxes are being packed and stacked, I look around the room and realize how much we haven't  captured with words and pictures that I wish we could share about this life changing week... "El Salvador is my favorite... the...

“I’ve seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people                                 living ordinary lives.”                                                                                                                     ~Tracy Chapman I have walked...

“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...