Denzel’s Story

Denzel’s big smile got our team’s attention in March 2019! His parents, Rafael and Lorena, learned that their son had both cleft lip and palate shortly before he was born. None of Denzel’s older siblings had a cleft, so they were surprised. Fortunately, their doctor gave them a video about how to care for a baby with a cleft as well as feeding instructions, so they felt prepared for what was to come after Denzel was born.

A friend of the family told Rafael and Lorena about Global Smile Foundation (GSF) and how we could provide the comprehensive care that Denzel needed.  When he was 6 months old, Denzel met the GSF team and underwent a cleft lip surgery.  A year later, he returned for a cleft palate surgery. Denzel’s parents are so happy with their son’s healthy smile and report that he is full of energy.