In an extraordinary act of kindness and collaboration, the MJB Cares Foundation has joined forces with Mercy Mission Philippines Foundation, Inc., Ospital ng Sta. Cruz, and the Province of Zambales to launch “Healing Smiles, Changing Lives.” This impactful initiative, run from February 7-10, 2024, at Ospital ng Sta. Cruz in Sta. Cruz, Zambales, provided a beacon of hope to families with cleft patients.
Dedicated to offering “FREE CLEFT LIP & PALATE SURGERY,” this project aims to not only correct physical conditions but also to uplift spirits and bring about positive change in the lives of many. By extending this vital support to families in need, “Healing Smiles, Changing Lives” embodies the essence of compassion and community solidarity.
This initiative promises to be more than just a medical mission; it is a journey towards healing, offering countless children the chance to smile with confidence and embrace a future without limitations. Through the combined efforts of these organizations, lives will be transformed, one smile at a time.
This mission owes its success to the unwavering dedication and expertise of a remarkable team of professionals. The skilled doctors and nurses from Mercy Mission Philippines Foundation Inc., including Dr. Howard Reyes-Lao, Dr. Voltaire Carandang, Dr. Dale Salamance, Dr. Josef Castillo, Dr. Karl Edejer, Nurse Caroline Carandang, and Nurse Phoebe Alcaraz, alongside the devoted staff of Ospital ng Sta Cruz, Dr. Rodomer Lustria, Nurse Darren S.Onia, Nurse Irish V. Dela Cruz, Nurse Rowena M. Metran, Nurse Alan Lester M. Fernandez, Nurse Peter Joseph G. Barnillo, Nurse Jeanne Lou M. Lansangan, Nurse Laarni M. Mara, Nurse Camille Grace Hermoso,Nurse Peter John Nagal, Nurse Trixie Ebuen, Roosevelt Ebuenga, Adnes Reyes (Philhealth Section Head), Hanna Malong, RPh (Pharmacy Section Head), Felito Urbano, RXT (Xray Section Head), Maricris Alegre (Laboratory Section Head), Yen Yen Domingo (Dietician), Aladin Cortez (Maintenance Section Head) your efforts have made a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need and instrumental in transforming lives. Their commitment has not only facilitated these life-changing surgeries but has also inspired a movement towards a more compassionate world.
These smiles, radiant with newfound hope and confidence, over the faces of children and their parents following successful cleft lip and palate surgeries, symbolize a significant turning point in their lives. No longer shadowed by the physical and emotional challenges of their condition, these children can now look forward to a future filled with possibilities. The sight of their beaming smiles and the tears of happiness in their parents’ eyes underscore the transformative power of this initiative, reminding us all of the deep impact such acts of kindness can have on individual lives and the broader community.
