Diego: A Smile and Strength Beyond His Years
Diego is the best son you could ask for. Naturally, he deserved the best cleft care, too
Diego, his parents, and his sisters live in a small city in Bolivia, high in the Andes Mountains. In the tropics, that altitude feels like spring year-round, so the 11-year-old is out every day with his father, Zacarias, tending the crops in their fertile hillside fields.
Too old to be a boy but not yet a teenager, Diego has always possessed a calm inner strength and gentle smile that bespeak a wisdom beyond his years, especially when life throws him challenges.
Diego has a cleft. His family had no idea until they held him for the first time. It terrified them — they did not know of any treatment that could help. And even if they could find some kind of care, they were certain they would never be able to afford it.
Fortunately, their doctors directed them to Smile Train.
Smile Train exists to help children like Diego — to educate their families about cleft treatment, and to make safe, holistic, top-of-the-line care available from local professionals 24/7, 100 % free.
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Diego received the cleft surgery he needed, and it was a complete success. “Thank you to God and to the doctors”, said Zacarias.
Today, in addition to helping in the fields, Diego is a promising student who’s always on top of his homework. Zacarias hopes his studies one day lead to a good career.
“I will always support him”, he said.
“Thank you to the doctors!” Diego said.
Sponsor cleft care for a child like Diego.
