Faces of Tomorrow

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Carmen's Story

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Carmen After SurgeryThirty-Nine year old Carmen Rivas touched the heart of every member of our team. Carmen had spent her entire life hiding because of her cleft lip.

She rarely left her house, and if she did, she was always hiding behind a scarf. She has never worked. She had not looked in a mirror for over twenty years. Carmen’s father would not allow her to have surgery.

Carment Before SurgeryAfter Carmen’s father died, Carmen learned that Faces of Tomorrow would be coming to Quito, Ecuador.

Wearing her scarf, a scared and shy Carmen made the journey to Quito.

Carmen’s surgery was a success. For the first time in her life she plans to get a job and be a part of the society she was hidden from for thirty nine years.

Faces of Tomorrow In the Press

Sacramento Bee

FACIAL SURGERY DOCTORS BRING OUT HUNDREDS OF SMILES

For much of her 39 years, the woman hid behind a scarf and could not bear to see herself in the mirror. She kept her gaze down, her eyes averting those of the doctor who came from afar to help her smile.

Read More: Sac Bee January 4, 2010  
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Patient Stories

  • Lucio Parro

    Lucio post-op Lucio Parro is an active 7-year-old boy who just wanted to be like all the other kids in his village. He came to us with his mother and he had already put a lot of thought into his surgery and those who would help him.

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  • Oscar's Story

    oscar16-year-old Oscar reinforced why we are doing mission work. Oscar was born with a cleft lip and a very large cleft palate. His lip was repaired when he was a baby. His mother told us that she had 6 children and her husband had passed away. She was very poor and having Oscar’s palate repaired was never an option.

    Read More: Oscar's Story  

  • Carmen's Story

    Patient stories: CarmenThirty-Nine year old Carmen Rivas touched the heart of every member of our team. Carmen had spent her entire life hiding because of her cleft lip.

    Read More: Carmen's Story