Guadalajara-born Andrea Cervantes was first treated by an international non-profit for her facial birth defect when she was three years old.
Now, as Operation Smile, dedicated to correcting cleft palate and cleft lip at no cost to patients, marks 16 years in Mexico, 19-year-old Andy is attempting to use her experience as a patient to encourage young people suffering from the same condition.
The anniversary was principally marked, starting last week, with a surgical program, similar to those in which Andy participated, that treated 33 patients at Hospital Innovare in Zapopan. Making the surgeries more convenient for the dozens of plastic surgeons and other medical staff who arrived in Guadalajara from around Mexico, a congress of the Asociacion Mexicana de Cirugia Plastica, Estetica y Reconstructiva is also being held locally this week. Doctors serve without pay in Operation Smile, only receiving compensation for travel and incidental expenses. Some of the surgeons, although already established in their careers, also receive extensive training from Operation Smile that can last for about a year, in order to qualify to participate.
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