Safari of Smiles Gala Helps Children Around the World

On June 4, the Michigan Friends of Operation Smile hosted "Safari of Smiles," a fabulous benefit evening for 400 guests at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester. Guests embarked on an African safari led by the evening's emcees, Monica Gayle, FOX 2 News Anchor and NBA Champion John Salley. The event, co-chaired by Terri Klimek and Penny Persiani, rallied supporters and sponsors who came together to introduce Operation Smile to the metro Detroit area.

Following dinner and a performance by the Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit, several outstanding individuals were honored for their support of Operation Smile and their commitment to helping children in need. Co-founders Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee were on hand to present the Corporate Humanitarian Award to Stryker Leibinger Micro Implants, who has provided Operation Smile medical teams with the necessary surgical tools for more than 20 years. Celebrity hairstylist Ken Pavés received the Universal Smile Award for his dedication to Operation Smile's children. Ken recently participated on the mission to Honduras and in 2004, he launched his Flawless by Pavés Professional hair care line, donating a portion of the sales to Operation Smile. Jackie Wallace accepted the Wilt Chamberlain Award on behalf of her son, Detroit Pistons' star forward Rasheed Wallace, in recognition of the work his foundation has done to help children and families in need in the greater Portland, Oregon community.

Special guests that night included Dr. Jojo Cembrano, Operation Smile volunteer plastic surgeon from the Philippines; H.E. Kassahun Ayele, Ambassador of Ethiopia; Mr. Yousif Ghafari, alternate Ambassador for the United States to the United Nations; three-year-old Mercy Jerotich, a World Care patient from Kenya, accompanied by her father Paul and nurse Lucy Kabii.

A silent auction offered prizes, while the spirited live auction hosted by Cynthia Canty from Magic 105.1 FM and Ken Pavés got people to open their hearts and their pocketbooks to help more children. Generous sponsors for the evening included: UBS Financial Services-Birmingham, Mrs. Marjorie and the late Max Fisher, The Ghafari Companies, Infinity Sounds Systems, Pulte Homes, Dr. Kevin and Terri Klimek, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Landing, The Schaller Group, Michael and Jackie Schwartz, Strker Leibinger Micro Implants, WJBK FOX 2 News, Hour Detroit Magazine and Magic 105.1 FM. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of the co-chairs, committee members and generous sponsors, the evening was a success, raising more than $330,000.

World Care Patient from Kenya Receives Life-Changing Surgery

Three-year-old Mercy Jerotich Lamai from Nairobi, Kenya, was born with an encephalocele. She was selected as an Operation Smile World Care patient because she needed complex reconstructive surgery. Operation Smile brings World Care patients to the U.S. for surgery and arranges for them to stay with host families.

Terri Klimek, an Operation Smile medical volunteer from Michigan, met Mercy and her family when she went to Kenya on a mission in November 2004. Terri and her husband, Dr. Kevin Klimek, also an Operation Smile medical volunteer, offered to be Mercy's host family.

The Klimeks opened their home and their hearts to Mercy, her father Paul and Mercy's nurse, Lucy Kabii. The three arrived in Detroit on April 10, having traveled nearly 7,000 miles from Eldoret, Kenya.

On April 13, Dr. Steve Buchman, Chairman of Pediatric Plastic Surgery at The University of Michigan and Operation Smile volunteer, and Dr. Karin Murasco, Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at The University of Michigan, performed Mercy's nine-hour surgery at The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor.

During their stay in the U.S., Mercy's father was interviewed by various Detroit media outlets. Terri said, "He was asked how he felt about being in the U.S. He brought me to tears. He said, - the Americans are not like people say they are. I put my daughter's life in their hands and they have given her life. They are very kind and loving people. They are very generous people."

Terri said, "Like a miracle, the language barrier between Mercy, Paul, Kevin and I disappeared. We learned to communicate with one another without a translator. As time went on, I would say a word in English, then Mercy would repeat it in English and then in her native tongue. Paul would laugh and also say it in English."

But Mercy's experiences in the U.S. didn't end with her post-operative recovery. Mercy, Paul and Lucy were special guests at Operation Smile's "Safari of Smiles" gala on June 4 held in Rochester. Terri served as co-chair for the event which was hosted by the Michigan Friends of Operation Smile. On June 5, Mercy, Paul and Lucy started their journey back home to Kenya.

Paul has invited both Kevin and Terri to be his future guests in his village. Kevin was so touched by the experience of having Mercy and Paul in his home; he will be on the Operation Smile mission team to Kenya this fall. Terri will be on the Ethiopia mission team in November, and both of them want to return to Kenya in 2006.

Commenting on the experience, Terri said, "It was everything and more than I was expecting. Mercy touched the lives of every single person that met her." She explained that Mercy embodied the spirit of Operation Smile's work. "The experience reinforced what I have learned by doing Operation Smile missions. It doesn't matter where I am, the country or continent, we truly are all the same. We all need to feel loved and accepted, but mostly, feel good about ourselves. I watched Mercy go from a shy withdrawn child to an outgoing, giggling, playful three year old girl. That transformation was priceless. This is why we need to continue to do more, to help more children."

See photos of Roma Downey’s inspirational journey to Vietnam with an Operation Smile volunteer medical team.

Watch the video of Roma Downey's journey to Vietnam with Operation Smile.

See updated photos of children from the 2003 Vietnam medical mission.