By Casey Frey & Geomara Guerron | GSF Staff
For over 15 years, Global Smile Foundation (GSF) has provided comprehensive cleft care in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Our dedicated team of volunteer medical professionals collaborates closely with local partners to deliver the highest quality care during our biannual outreach programs in March and September.
Until early 2025, GSF operated in partnership with Hospital León Becerra, a collaboration that spanned over a decade. Unfortunately, the hospital was forced to close its doors due to bankruptcy. This unexpected news required GSF to act quickly and identify a new facility for our March 2025 medical outreach program.
Thanks to the generosity and commitment of Semedic Hospital, a private medical facility in Guayaquil, our outreach program was able to proceed without delay. More than just a new location, Semedic has become a place of hope and transformation for our patients. Their modern infrastructure and welcoming environment have allowed us to continue delivering life-changing cleft care—now in a setting where patients are treated with the dignity and compassion they deserve. We are deeply grateful to Semedic Hospital for opening their doors to GSF and patients.
March 2025 Medical Outreach Program Highlights
In just eight days, our integrated team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, speech-language pathologists, nutritionists, psychologists, dentists, and volunteers provided a wide range of services:
These numbers reflect more than just medical services—they represent changed lives, restored confidence, and renewed futures.
Patient Spotlight: Pitter’s Story
In March, we met Pitter, an eight-year-old boy from rural Ecuador born with a cleft lip and palate. Although he had previously undergone surgery, he continued to suffer both physically and emotionally, facing daily bullying and pain.
When Pitter’s father learned that GSF was in Guayaquil, he immediately set out—on horseback—to the town where Pitter and his mother lived, determined to get his son the help he needed. Along the way, he called our on-site team, pleading with them to keep the patient list open until they arrived.
On March 11, Pitter received the transformative care he had long awaited. His story is a powerful reminder that our work is not just about surgery—it’s about resilience, love, and a parent’s determination to give their child a better life.
We look forward to returning to Guayaquil from September 2–14, 2025, to continue providing high-quality, multidisciplinary cleft care to both returning and new patients.
Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to giving children like Pitter the chance to live healthier, happier lives. Please consider contributing to this important mission. Together, we can make a profound impact and give children suffering from untreated cleft the chance for healthy smiles and lives.
By Lisa Crist | Director of Dev. & Marketing
By Lisa Crist | Director of Dev. & Marketing
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