Arlyn's Story
Life-changing cleft care Arlyn
Arlyn was born in the Philippines with a cleft lip. Despite the efforts of her parents Dominga and Marcos, including a 12-hour bus journey to Manila in search of medical care, they couldn’t find the help they needed.
“I pray for her that someday Arlyn’s lip will be okay. I teach her how to pray every night. Lord please help me. Give me good health every day. Make my lip well.”
Finally, Dominga’s prayers are answered, and the family learns of an Operation Smile medical mission in their part of the Philippines.
“Arlyn will be pretty. And when she grows up, she will see a picture of herself as a child. She will compare her picture and say, ‘Mama, when I was a child my lip was open, but now I am pretty.”
Dominga is filled with gratitude.
I pray to God that he will help those who help me and my child.
Dominga, Arlyn Mother, Philippines
Irish Catholic
Operation Smile has provided safe cleft surgery to hundreds of thousands of children worldwide. For many families like Arlyn’s, Operation Smile is the only hope they have to give their children the future they deserve
Find out more about Arlyn’s journey by reading our featured article in The Irish Catholic.
