Texas Volunteers in Mexico to Repair Kids’ Cleft Lips Allison Miller - Fox San Antonio
go to original June 8, 2023

30 medical and non-medical volunteers from the nonprofit organization Austin Smiles are currently in Veracruz, Mexico. Nearly 70 children are undergoing surgery for cleft lip or palate-related repairs.

Many of these children have been deprived of access to care and have endured prolonged waits for surgery. The operations include cleft lip repair, cleft lip revisions, tongue tie and cleft palate repairs, all of which will significantly improve the children's future prospects by enhancing their ability to communicate, eat, and thrive.

Since 1988, Austin Smiles has provided 1,174 free surgeries to children in Mexico, profoundly impacting the lives of these 1,174 families. These surgeries have enabled parents to return to work, children to resume their education, and brought about true life transformations.

Unfortunately, travel conditions in Veracruz became unsafe for patients in 2018, preventing the Smiles team from visiting for the past few years. This year marks Austin Smiles' return to Mexico since 2017.

Austin Smiles - The Austin Plastic Surgery Foundation, is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 with over 35 years of experience providing surgical and post-surgical care to children born with cleft lip and cleft palate, both in Central Texas and in Latin America.

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