Filipino child is Smile Train’s 750,000th beneficiary
Celebrating another “smilestone,” Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, recently conducted its 750,000th free cleft surgery since it was founded in 1999. The 750,000th surgery was performed on Jhoanna Galut, a six- year old child from the Philippines, to correct a unilateral cleft lip that she had since birth and to give her a normal and happy life.
Galut is but one of the many thousands of children worldwide who have been given a new smile and a second chance at life by Smile Train. With thousands of partners and programs operating in more than 80 countries including the Philippines, the mission of Smile Train is to help the millions of children in developing countries with unrepaired clefts by providing free cleft surgery to children from desperately poor families.
“It only takes a very simple procedure, to change a child’s life. It is sad that so many children in the Philippines, particularly those from poor families, do not have the means to correct this condition. They have to go through life bearing the physical and health complications, as well as the shame and isolation. This is why we, at Smile Train, are very passionate about carrying-out the organization’s mission to give an opportunity to every child with a cleft case to live a full and productive life,” said Kimmy Flaviano, country manager for Smile Train Philippines.
“We are very happy that Smile Train has reached this smilestone, and grateful that our local operations has been progressing with the help of our partners and donors. Jhoanna being chosen to represent this amazing highlight is yet another blessing, and is symbolic of our dedication and attachment to this cause,” adds Flaviano.
Galut’s heartwarming story is a perfect illustration of the 750,000 lives that Smile Train has changed. The 4th of 6 children born to a poor family living off P90 a day, Galut was made fun of by the kids at her school. Her mother frequently got into fights with her neighbors over her cleft. Being sickly and asthmatic, Jhoanna could not receive surgery much earlier. Fortunately, she has become healthy and strong enough to pass the medical examination and finally received free cleft lip surgery at the Philippine Band of Mercy, one of Smile Train’s partners in the Philippines.
With her bright new smile, Galut is ready to face the world. “I’m excited to go to school. I want to be a teacher someday,” she shared.
For more information on Smile Train Philippines, and how you can avail of a free surgery, call or send a message to 0917- 52- TRAIN ( 09175287246).