Our club helped sponsor this life-changing work.
The Smiles International Foundation returned to Los Cabos in August 2024 to conduct its second free cleft lip and palate surgery day of the year. Under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey J. Moses and in collaboration with the Los Cabos Rotary Club, a team of 22 medical specialists performed 62 reconstructive procedures, while follow up visits helped previous patients with speech therapy and other needs to ensure a total physical and emotional recovery.
The Rotary Club of Carlsbad is a proud sponsor of this work, along with Tecate Rotary Club of Baja, Mexico. The value of the August mission is estimated to be about $420,000, and more than 300 kids remain on the waiting list.
Many of the children afflicted with facial clefts require 5-7 stages of reconstructive surgeries in order to fully achieve their ability to eat properly, breathe, hear, speak functionally, and, of course, smile!
See the group in action on Facebook.