Eduardo’s Oaths

Inspired by his unstoppable mother, Eduardo took control of his life. Now he’s inspiring other children with clefts do the same

Eduardo’s mother felt a sense of loss when she first saw his cleft. But she loved him no less for it, and as she held and cared for him, the shock faded, and she made an oath to them both: “This is my son, and I will show him off to the world.”

A picture of Eduardo as a boy
An old photo of Eduardo as a child

She spent his childhood scouring Mexico City for the best possible cleft treatment she could afford. After much scrimping and sacrificing, she put together enough to pay for the surgeries he needed.

Even as he grew up picked on for how he looked and spoke, her efforts were never lost on him. In secondary school, Eduardo made an oath of his own: “I was no longer going to be the shy guy who was afraid of public speaking.”

Eduardo reading in his office at Centro SUMA
Eduardo reading in his office at Centro SUMA

Inspired by his mother’s tenacity and unconditional love, he took charge of his life. Today, he has a degree in neurolinguistics and provides speech therapy to children with clefts at Centro SUMA, a Smile Train Cleft Leadership Center in his hometown.

Eduardo
Eduardo today

“After many years, a long journey, and the support of a lot of medical professionals, I was able to find my own voice. Now it is my turn to help other children through this process,” Eduardo reflected.

To him, this is a sacred task. By helping children find their physical voices, he hopes to help them also find their inner voices, to free them to exercise their rights to self-expression with confidence and dignity.

Eduardo's mother holding a picture of him as a child
Eduardo's mother holding a picture of him as a child

Just like his mother taught him.

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Our Impact in Mexico

as of July 2022

21,500

cleft surgeries sponsored since 2002

60+

active partner surgeons

45+

active partner hospitals