My Nonprofit Reviews

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF KNOWING SOMEONE WITH A CLEFT PALATE WAS WHEN I WAS 16. THE YEAR WAS 1965. I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH A WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN WHO HAD THIS CONDITION. FORTUNATELY, HE HAD AN IQ OF 200 AND HIS FATHER WAS THE AMBASSADOR FROM TURKEY, SO THE SURGERY WAS PERFORMED AT BIRTH. I ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE IF HE HADN'T HAD THE SURGERY AND SUPPORT OF LOVING PARENTS. LATER ON I TRAVELED FOR BUSINESS IN MANY PARTS OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD AND SAW SO MANY CHILDREN WITH CLEFT PALATES THAT HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. IT ABSOLUTELY BROKE MY HEART, BECAUSE MANY WOMEN WERE LIVING ON THE STREETS WITH THESE CHILDREN OR WORSE THESE KIDS WERE ALONE. IT INSPIRED ME TO GIVE AS MUCH AS I COULD OVER THE YEARS. I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO THE NURSES AND DOCTORS WHO DO THIS SURGERY FOR FREE. THE COST IS SO LITTLE COMPARED TO THE FACT YOU WILL FOREVER CHANGE THE LIFE OF A PERSON. THANK YOU SMILE TRAIN FOR ALL OF YOU WHO WORK SO HARD TO HELP OTHERS.
SALLY