OPERATION SMILE

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OPERATION SMILE

• changing lives one smile at a time
• www.operationsmile.org

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the beginning

• Operation Smile began in 1982 a plastic surgeon,
  his wife (a nurse), and medical volunteers
  traveled to the Philippines to correct childrens
  cleft lips and cleft palates.
• Hundreds were plagued by such deformities and
  this small group had to turn away the majority of
  them.

Ngan, Vietnam
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today

• Operation Smile currently supports international
  and local, in-country medical missions to 26
  countries.
• Since 1982, more than 115,000 children and young
  adults have been treated by thousands of
  volunteers worldwide and thousands of healthcare
  professionals have been trained globally.
• On a typical International Medical Mission,
  300-500 children receive full medical evaluations
  and 100-150 children are surgically treated.
• There are over 25 medical missions each year
  which means 2,500- 3,750 children receive their
  surgery every year.
• It costs 240 per child to receive the 45 minute
  surgery.

Ngan, Vietnam
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warning

• The next picture is kind of gross (it shows the
  inside of a mouth with cleft palate), so DO NOT
  LOOK if you have a weak stomach.

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what is a cleft lip or a cleft palate?

• Cleft literally means hole. Therefore it is a
  hole in the lip and/or palate resulting from
  incomplete facial development during gestation.
• This birth defect not only effects appearance but
  frequently causes problems with speech, eating
  and ear infections.
• Approximately 4,200 babies are born annually with
  cleft lip and palate.
• Approximately 2,600 babies are born annually with
  just cleft lip.

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Thanh- Vietnam

• "Sut" means split lip and is a terrible name for
  a child. But for the first nine years of my life,
  that's what I was called by everyone in the
  village. Every day, the cleft lip I was born with
  caused me pain and humiliation. On my first day
  of school, the other children taunted me so
  mercilessly because of my disfigured mouth that I
  refused to go back. It seemed that my whole life
  would be ruined by this curse.
• Then, Operation Smile came along. During the
  mission to Vung Tau, Vietnam, I received a new
  smile, new friends, and reclaimed my birth name,
  Thanh, which means, "Blue Sky." Now, the sky's
  the limit for me. I have returned to school and
  to life, and the future is filled with sunshine.

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if youre interested

• Sign up on the information sheet to receive
  emails.
• Send me an email or call me if you are interested
  in helping to get the ball rolling on an
  Operation Smile Organization here at MIZZOU!
  (Well organize fundraising events in which all
  proceeds will be sent to Operation Smile)

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at mizzou...

• If we could have two fundraising events per
  academic year (one fall and one spring), raising
  1,000 a piece, we could provide surgery for over
  8 children.
• Some ideas for fundraising events
• a walk/run/ride race (maybe called Miles of
  Smiles?)
• Penny wars
• Fashion Show (maybe called Style for Smiles? I
  clearly like to rhyme)
• Benefit Concert
• Dining out for Smiles (with restaurant
  participation)

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my information

• Alyssa Van Paris
• anv5g5_at_mizzou.edu
• [phone]
• Call me
• Email me
• Facebook me
• Knock on my door
• Just get involved so we can help more kids
  SMILE!! ?