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Patient Stories

Here are some stories about our recent patients. It's hard to fathom what a difference a simple surgery can make for the life of these precious individuals. Often trapped in a spiral of poverty, for some of our patients their condition is a lifelong struggle and an insurmountable barrier to a full social and working life.

It is amazing to watch these boys, girls and adults heal and prosper in front of our very eyes along with their families.

Jesse, patient 210

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jessie, patient 210We started the morning with patient number 201 and ended with number 301. We saw baby after baby after toddler with unrepaired lips and palates, most frightened clinging to their parents and many crying uncontrollably. Then swaggered in number 210, eight year old Jesse.

   

Emron

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emron before Surgery Emron is an eleven-year-old boy that has a cleft lip and a cleft palate.  I can't believe an eleven-year-old boy still had such a deformity.

   

Lucio Parro

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Lucio pre-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.

   

Oscar's Story

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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.

   

Carmen's Story

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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.

   

A Mother From Cuenca, Ecuador

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I am the mother of the two-month-old baby. I give you thanks for everything, and may God bless you. Don’t forget about the children of Ecuador and don’t abandon us, as here the people are not prepared for these problems.

   

Lunardy Penarando

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LeonardyThese days I ask myself what would happen if these good hearted doctors wouldn’t have arrived in Ecuador to perform the surgeries...

   

Faces of Tomorrow In the Press

1.  Dr. Sam Ahani with a young Ecuadorian patientIn early January Sam Ahani, DDS, boarded a plane for a life-changing trip which would take him to Quito, the capital city of Ecuador . Ahani, who co-founded Shore View Dental here in Pacifica with his wife, pediatric specialist Sepi

Read More: Healing Together: Dr. Sam Ahani Travels to Ecuador Fixing Smiles With 'Faces of Tomorrow'  

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Patient Stories

  • Jesse, patient 210

    jessie, patient 210We started the morning with patient number 201 and ended with number 301. We saw baby after baby after toddler with unrepaired lips and palates, most frightened clinging to their parents and many crying uncontrollably. Then swaggered in number 210, eight year old Jesse.

    Read More: Jesse, patient 210  
  • Emron

    emron before Surgery Emron is an eleven-year-old boy that has a cleft lip and a cleft palate.  I can't believe an eleven-year-old boy still had such a deformity.

    Read More: Emron  
  • Lucio Parro

    Lucio pre-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.

    Read More: Lucio Parro