Mohamad was born in Beirut on December 4, 2022, with a cleft lip and palate. Although his arrival was unexpected, his parents recall that it made him even more special! While his mother, Darine, knew about the cleft lip before birth, she had limited access to prenatal care or resources to prepare her for the challenges that lay ahead, especially with feeding.
Mohamad, the youngest of four, was the only one born with a cleft condition, leaving his entire family with limited knowledge of cleft care. The family made a habit of hiding Mohamad from others, fearful of being publicly ostracized for an unfamiliar condition that was out of their control. Everything changed when they learned about Global Smile Foundation from friends. They traveled an hour by car to reach the hospital, where Mohamad received his first lip repair surgery at four months old and a cleft palate repair surgery at one year old.
Although GSF was unfamiliar to them, the family felt immediate trust due to the professionalism and kindhearted care exhibited. Following two successful surgeries, Mohamad and his family re-entered their community with confidence and bright smiles.
Mohamad’s story and smile are proof of the resilience, love, and hope that GSF fosters globally.