Image that you wake up in the morning, you stretch, you look at a loved one laying next to you, your spouse or child. Then you smile! Who wouldn’t smile at the beautiful scene I’ve painted? I know that my family is my life and they make me happy. When I’m happy I smile. I pretty much smile all the time, hence Shibley “Smiles”. I can’t imagine my smile not being something I’m known for it is part of me. My children all received the same “smile” gene and can often be found with a smile on their faces as well.
There are many children all over the world who have beautiful smiles, but were born with cleft lip or palate. These children can often suffer from self esteem issues because they are often bullied and ostracized by their peers. Knowing this I’m sure as a parent you would do whatever you could to help your child such as make sure they can get the surgery they need to show the world that they do have a beautiful smile. What if you couldn’t afford the surgery? This is where Smile Train comes in!
What is SmileTrain
Smile Train is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate. Millions of children in developing countries with unrepaired clefts live in shame, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing and speaking. Cleft repair surgery is simple, and the transformation is immediate. Our sustainable model provides training and funding to empower local doctors in 85+ developing countries to provide 100%-free cleft repair surgery in their communities.
Smile Train is so much more personal than just another charity. I encourage you to visit the website to read and listen to true stories of people who’s lives have been changed by this initiative. Did you know that Smile Train surgery can take as little as 45 minutes and can cost as little as $250. $250 is a small price to pay to give a child the world, a smile! Smile Train has helped more than one million children in 15 years, but there are still millions of children living with unrepaired clefts and you can help by visiting and donating today.
I want you to spend the rest of the day (or the next if it is late) and smile. No frowning, just smile. Find the good in everything you do, or the people you meet. See what type of reaction you get a smile back, a hello, a wave, or a thank you? You can evoke change with your smile and you can help those that need your help to give them the power of a smile as well!
Smile Train has a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate. Smile Train’s model provides training and funding to empower local doctors in developing countries provide 100%- free cleft repair surgery in their communities. Join us and change the world with the power of a smile.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Smile Train. The opinions and text are all mine.
