Lilia's Journey to A Beautiful Smile
Lilia Takes on the World With a Confident Glow
Remember Lilia? She is five years old now, growing up in Mexico and curious as ever. She loves to sing, dance and play basketball, and is always ready for an adventure. Everyone at the Operation Smile surgical program is familiar with her contagious giggles and kind hugs. She carries this warmth even to school where she plays with every new classmate and makes them laugh so they can feel like they belong.
But life for her and her mother Valeria wasn’t always as bright. Lilia was born with a cleft lip and palate during the COVID-19 pandemic when health care systems were fragile and the world was filled with uncertainty. This meant they couldn’t readily access safe surgery or the support they needed and deserved. On top of that, Valeria was also dealing with the grief of recently losing her husband. They had to face these challenges all by themselves.
That is until they got in touch with Operation Smile — the moment that changed everything. Looking back to the beginning of Lilia’s cleft care journey, Valeria recalls it being the most beautiful experience.
Valeria, Lilia's momOperation Smile was always there for us, not just for surgery but with speech therapy and psychosocial support.
First Steps of the Journey
In 2021, Lilia received her first surgery to treat her cleft lip, followed by a second in 2022 for her cleft palate. Valeria remembers being amazed when she first saw Lilia post-surgery. “It was so beautiful to see her. Her appearance had changed, but she kept smiling and laughing just like before.”
In addition to her new smile, Lilia continued receiving comprehensive care which transformed her life and helped her speak clearly. Operation Smile’s caring medical volunteers provided her with speech therapy, orthodontics and follow-up appointments, helping her grow with confidence.
Liliana, Patient Coordinator, Operation SmileLilia’s progress shows that she is a happy, affectionate girl who enjoys going to school and interacting with others. She is gaining confidence every day as she grows and progresses in her comprehensive care. Her speech is clear thanks to the speech therapy she began at a very young age.
What's Life Like for Lilia Today?
Now, this little girl from Mexico’s bright energy fills every room with joy. Being able to speak clearly, she glows of confidence and is always up for making new friends. Her mother describes her as someone who is “playful, funny, caring and loves to give hugs” — a source of strength and happiness for Valeria. She wants Lilia to know “no matter your circumstances, a smile and empathy are important.” And Lilia has truly embraced that message.
Lilia would love to be a teacher or a doctor when she grows up. Valeria believes she could even be a model with her charismatic personality and bright smile. And that beautiful smile is a reflection of her mother’s resilience every step of the way, her community’s guidance and Operation Smile’s continuous support in ensuring Lilia receives a future full of possibilities.
You Helped Write a New Chapter in Lilia's Story
It’s thanks to the generosity of partners like you, and ongoing comprehensive cleft care delivered by our medical volunteers that children like Lilia now have the opportunity to write bright new chapters in their lives.
Together, We Build Hope.
