A facial cleft is a fairly common congenital deformity that can be surgically corrected during infancy. Unfortunately, many children are born with clefts in parts of the world where professional medical resources are scarce, and their families cannot afford corrective surgery. These children endure difficulty eating their food, speaking, and smiling. In many places, these children can also be treated as outcasts. Operation Smile provides these children with access to facial surgery so that they can smile, eat, and socialize with their friends and family. Operation Smile operates in over 60 countries, and has performed over 200,000 free surgeries to date.
About the Author: Dr. Peter Killcommons is a telemedicine expert and philanthropist. In addition to his work with Operation Smile, he has donated equipment and provided medical services in countries around the world, including Afghanistan and Armenia.