Arnoldo's story

You can help more children like Arnoldo

At just five years old, Arnoldo already understood what it meant to feel left out. Born with a cleft palate, the young boy from Venezuela longed for nothing more than to feel like other children his age.

His mother remembers how, when he played outside, he would often hide his face from the stares of others. Still, Arnoldo’s love for life shone through. He adored baseball and, despite being teased, found the courage to join the other children on the field – where his talent and passion for the game could not be denied.

Each night, Arnoldo prayed for a miracle – to look like the other children in his village. What he didn’t know was that he was already extraordinary: a bright, determined boy with a deep love for life and hope for the future.

That miracle came during an Operation Smile medical programme in Barinas, Venezuela. There, volunteer doctors from the UK provided Arnoldo with the surgery he needed to transform his life.

“I feel joy, much joy,” says his father. “I thank all the doctors. May they continue this good work, not only for my child, but for all the children who need it.”