A Smile Restores A Mother’s Faith in Humanity

Mona knew in the first few months of her pregnancy that she was pregnant with twins. This pregnancy was different from her first two, and more difficult. The birth was complicated, too, and Roaa and Reem had to be delivered by c-section.

When Mona woke from the surgery, the doctor told her that one of the twins, Roaa, had a cleft lip, though immediately assured her that it could be treated. Mona didn’t know what a cleft was. When she saw Roaa for the first time, she only drew her close and kissed her. “I wasn’t shocked,” she said. “Whatever God sends is a blessing.” 

Mona was referred to Dr.Mamdouh Aboulhassan, a Smile Train partner in Giza, Egypt. When he scheduled them for free surgery to repair Roaa’s cleft, Mona couldn’t believe it. “We didn’t even pay for the consultation!” she exclaimed.

Though relieved, Mona was also scared — she had never been to Smile Train partner Kids Hospital before and didn’t know what to expect. On the way there, Mona told her husband, Ibrahim, that if the hospital wasn’t clean and well-staffed, they were turning around. When the family arrived, they couldn’t believe what they saw. “Can you imagine that we’re walking into a quality place like this and you’re not going to pay anything?” gasped a relative who came with them. “I truly couldn’t believe how amazing it was,” agreed Mona.

Her relief lasted until Roaa went into surgery and she stood by the door to the operating room and refused to leave. Mona only moved once she heard Roaa’s cries and saw the doctor return, holding her. She grabbed hold of her daughter, completely overwhelmed by emotion.

Now, when she looks at Roaa’s smile, the memories fill her with hope. “I felt the world still had good in it,” she said. “Honestly, I couldn’t believe there were people that were still good.”

Images and portions of text provided by HUMAN™.