Iris' Story

Lost smiles – thousands of children like Iris need your help

Iris lived life in the shadows. She was deeply self-conscious of her cleft lip and palate, hiding her mouth with her hand whenever she was out in public and avoiding eye contact with other people.

Like most children born with a cleft condition, Iris came from a loving family, but on her young shoulders she carried the heavy burden and shame of her condition and learned to hide from strangers to protect herself from ridicule.

A lack of operating theatres and surgeons in countries like Nicaragua means that there are thousands of people – including children with cleft conditions, like Iris – who can’t get the safe surgery or basic healthcare they need. Many will tragically die as a result, from otherwise treatable conditions and illnesses.

Iris and her mother Sandra lived a long and expensive bus ride from their closest Operation Smile medical programme in Managua, Nicaragua. Thankfully, a kind lady in their town paid for the bus tickets for them.

Thanks to the work of our medical volunteers – and the support of people like you – Iris was able to access her life-changing surgery and now looks forward to a world where she doesn’t have to hide.

For many people, this vital help is too far away. For others, it’s simply beyond their means. Our Lost Smiles campaign aims to find over 12,000 patients, like Iris, who are waiting for cleft care and surgery and give them the treatment they need.