Stories You Make Possible

Stories You Make Possible

Explore Operation Smile stories from around the world highlighting the courage of patients and their families, the dedication of our volunteers and staff, and the generosity of supporters like you.

Guatemala
Ribbon cutting ceremony at the inauguration ceremony for the Bill and Kathy Magee Comprehensive Care Center in Guatemala City. From left to right: Beatriz Vidal, executive director for Operation Smile Guatemala); Dr. Bill Magee, Operation Smile co-founder and CEO; Kathy Magee, Operation Smile co-founder and president; Estuardo Trujillo Operation Smile Guatemala Chairman.

At the Center of a Dream: Operation Smile Guatemala’s New Care Center

Volunteers, staff, donors, patients and their families gathered together in Guatemala City to celebrate the grand opening of the Bill and Kathy Magee Comprehensive Care Center.
Global
Eleven-month-old Moses looks head-on at the camera during screening at an Operation Smile Ghana surgical program.

Moses’ Journey to Surgery: Celebrating National Nutrition Month

Malnutrition contributes to the deaths of 3.1 million children less than 5 years old annually. Operation Smile patients born with cleft conditions are especially vulnerable, which is why we have established nutrition programs in 24 countries around the world.
Madagascar
Alfred stands in front of a pale yellow background, holding a photo of him before surgery.

Alfred’s Story of Love, Integrity and a New Smile

Alfred’s life was full of love and happiness as a husband and father. At 52 years old, Alfred believed he’d experienced the most he could out of life. But little did he know there was something greater headed his way.
Global
During the Women in Medicine surgical program in the Philippines, Kisha plays with an Operation Smile volunteer before her surgery.

Health Equity Heroes

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Operation Smile and our global partners are honoring the importance of health equity for women by launching our Health Equity Heroes campaign.
Ghana
Dr. Opoku Ampomah, cleft surgeon with Operation Smile Ghana, sits beside 10-month-old Christiana and her mom the morning after surgery.

Answering The Call: Q&A with Cleft Surgeon Dr. Opoku Ampomah

In this Q&A, Dr. Opoku Ampomah shares the reason behind what has inspired him to keep coming back to Operation Smile Ghana for the last 12 years.
Guatemala
Sitting in white plastic chairs, Dayana wears a yellow top smiling at her mom, Eluvia, who wears wearing a pink shirt and jeans.

After 11 Years, Hope Emerges for a Daughter and Her Mom

VIDEO: For 11 years, Eluvia felt alone as she searched for care for her daughter, Dayana. But those feelings of uncertainty and doubt disappeared after she connected with Operation Smile Guatemala.
Global
During the 2022 Women in Medicine program in the Philippines, volunteer nurse Carola Noren of Sweden looks in on a patient following their cleft surgery.

Women Empowering Women

Throughout 2022, women-led volunteer teams delivered 280 surgeries during our Women in Medicine surgical programs in Morocco, Peru, Malawi and the Philippines.
Brazil
One-year-old Wesilyn smiles wide months after receiving cleft surgery. Behind him is a bright yellow wall.

Meet Our Patients: Santarem, Brazil

Wesilyn, Lorrane and Jhone’s three separate journeys to care converged at an Operation Smile Brazil surgical program in Santarem. Here are their stories.
Honduras
Ana, holds her daughter, Zoe, wearing masks in the pre-operative ward during an Operation Smile Honduras surgical program.

Through a Mother’s Eyes: Q&A With Ana

In this special Q&A with a patient’s parent, we hear what Zoe’s mom, Ana, experienced at every stage of her daughter’s cleft care journey.

Make Your Gift

Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft condition. Your gift today will help transform lives and increase access to essential surgical care.

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