Smile Stories: Before and After Smiles...

Operation Smile's volunteer medical professionals travel around the world to treat children suffering from facial deformities. Their efforts mean new smiles for thousands of children, including these former patients:

Dahlak

Dahlak

Dahlak was born to impoverished parents in Ethiopia. Though it should have been a happy occasion, his mother, Mahder, was shocked to see that her new baby had a jagged tear in his upper lip. Too poor to afford surgery, she feared for Dahlak’s future. Then Operation Smile came to nearby Addis Ababa. Mahder was determined to get her son to the mission site and on the list for surgery. But when she arrived, more than 430 other children and young adults were waiting for their chance as well. Fortunately, Dahlak was one of 184 who received free surgery in the ensuing week. Mahder no longer fears that he’ll be scorned and rejected. He now has a beautiful face.