Faces of Tomorrow

You are here: Home

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.

Marvin Contiri

Attention: open in a new window.

MarvinAfters-sm 17 year old Marvin Contiri came to our screening clinic in 2011 to have his bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate repaired and unfortunately we had to turn him away. He learned about the mission late and by the time he arrived our schedule was jam packed and we could not take any more patients. He returned in 2012 and this was his year.

Aireen - A Promise Kept

Attention: open in a new window.

Aireen-after-sm During our 2011 mission to the Philippines we met 19 year old Aireen. Aireen has a severe cleft lip and palate. She also suffers from various neurological deficits leaving her severely delayed. She came to us with many family members as supporters. Our doctors examined her and as a team decided it would not be safe to operate on her because of unknown health risks.

Kyle Patrick - Captain America

Attention: open in a new window.

kyle-patrick-sm 11 year old Patrick "Captain America" touched the heart of every member of our team. He arrived at our clinic wearing a Captain America t-shirt and to our surprise speaking freely in English to our team. It was really special being able to communicate with him directly.

Jesse, patient 210

Attention: open in a new window.

We 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

Attention: open in a new window.

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

Attention: open in a new window.

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

Attention: open in a new window.

16-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

Attention: open in a new window.

Patient stories: Carmen Thirty-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.