By Aya Shamas | Lebanon Program Associate
Thank you for your generosity in supporting our upcoming October 2025 medical outreach program in Lebanon to provide comprehensive cleft care. Your support is changing lives, giving children the ability to smile, speak, and eat properly.
One of those children is Mohamad, who was born with cleft lip and palate in December 2022 in Beirut, Lebanon. He has received care with GSF since April 2023 and has been evaluated by specialists in speech therapy, pediatric development, dentistry, surgery, and general pediatrics to monitor his progress and receive new activities to support his ongoing cleft care journey.
Meet Mohamad:
Mohamad's mother, Darine, had limited access to prenatal care and was unaware of his condition before birth. With no prior knowledge or experience with cleft, she faced numerous challenges during Mohamad’s early months – including difficulties with feeding and confronting societal stigma associated with cleft. Isolated and unsure of where to turn, Darine kept Mohamad hidden from their community.
Everything changed when Darine learned about Global Smile Foundation (GSF). She and Mohamad traveled over an hour to reach the hospital, where he received cleft lip surgery during our April 2023 outreach program, followed by cleft palate repair in April 2024. Although they hadn’t known about GSF initially, the compassion, professionalism, and warmth of our team immediately earned their trust and brought them comfort.
Mohamad returned for his annual check-up in Beirut during the April 2025 outreach program. He will continue to receive care and follow-up from the GSF team. His progress reflects the life-changing impact of consistent, integrated cleft care.
Today, Mohamad’s smile is a testament to resilience and healing. His family has re-entered their community with pride and confidence.
There are more smiles to brighten:
We look forward to seeing Mohamad again during our upcoming outreach program in Beirut, October 10–18, 2025. Our team will continue providing Mohamad comprehensive cleft care, following up on his progress and supporting children like him every step of the way.
Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to giving children like Mohamad the chance to live healthier, happier lives. Together, we can make a profound impact and give children suffering from untreated cleft the chance for healthy smiles and lives.
Thank you for your continued generosity!
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