A Mother’s Determination: Finding a Path to Cleft Care

An Uncertain Future

When Isis was born with a cleft condition, Erica was unsure of what came next. She knew what a cleft was, but she had never understood what it could mean for a child and their family.

In the days that followed, Erica began learning everything she could about the care Isis would need. While still in the hospital, a speech therapist helped Erica learn how to feed her daughter and the family connected with specialists and resources that could support Isis as she grew.

But finding the right path to surgery would take time.

Her Daughter’s Advocate

From the beginning, Erica became her daughter’s strongest advocate, taking an active role in finding care and answers.

She searched for information, reached out to health care professionals, and explored every opportunity that could help Isis receive the care she needed. Having previously studied dentistry, Erica even contacted former classmates to learn more about cleft care.

Eventually, she discovered Operation Smile and began following the organization on Instagram.

In August 2024, when Isis was 8 months old, she was scheduled for her first surgery. But just one week before the procedure, she became sick, and the surgery was canceled.

For Erica, the disappointment was devastating.

“The feeling I had was worse than when she was born, and I found out she had a cleft,” she recalled. “It was a feeling of inadequacy.”

Months later, Isis was scheduled for surgery again.

This time, Erica allowed herself to hope.

But the day before the procedure, a test showed that Isis had rhinovirus. Although she showed no symptoms, it was not safe for the surgical team could notto safely move forward with the surgery.

For the second time, Erica and Isis returned home without the surgery they had been waiting for.

Still, Erica refused to give up.

“A mother of a child with a cleft doesn’t have the option of giving up,” she said.

The Path to Mossoró

After Isis’ second canceled surgery, Erica learned there were no additional surgical openings available for her daughter at the hospital where she was receiving care. Around the same time, surgeries had been suspended due to a wave of respiratory illness.

Erica continued searching for another opportunity. One evening, after finishing her prayers, she opened Instagram.

The first post she saw announced an upcoming Operation Smile Brazil surgical program in Mossoró.

For Erica, the decision was immediate. That night, she began researching the program and messaging family members. Soon, she and Isis were preparing to make the journey. Erica and Isis traveled approximately three hours from their home in Aquiraz to Mossoró, arriving at the hospital early for Isis’ screening.

Erica did not know whether her daughter would be selected for surgery. But from the moment they arrived, she felt something different.

“When we started receiving that warmth, those people coming to talk to us, a kind of love I don’t think I’d ever received in my life… I felt so happy,” Erica said. “Here I felt very much at ease, very calm.”

Then came the news she had been waiting for.

The surgical team confirmed that Isis could receive surgery.

The joy Erica felt at that moment brought her back to another unforgettable day in her life: learning that she was pregnant with Isis after nearly two years of trying to become a mother.

“When I got the news that Isis had been selected for surgery, it was the same happiness,” Erica said.

Hope for the Future

Like every parent, Erica imagines a bright future for her daughter. She hopes Isis will grow up surrounded by opportunities and confidence.

“My expectation is that it’s the first step for my daughter to have a beautiful smile and a beautiful future ahead,” Erica said. “Without looks, without pointing, without her going through bullying or anything like that.”

But throughout Isis’ journey, Erica has also learned the importance of not allowing tomorrow’s uncertainty to distract from today’s joy.

She remembers worrying about whether Isis would walk.

Then Isis walked.

She worried about whether her daughter would speak.

Then Isis began saying her first words.

Those moments reminded Erica that childhood continues to unfold, even during seasons of waiting.

“Sometimes we get so worried, so tense, that we end up not living moments, missing moments,” Erica said. “The right time will come. So we have to live the moment with them.”

For Erica, Isis’ first surgery in Mossoró was not the end of her journey.

It was the beginning of a new chapter.

Stories like Erica’s are the reason we’re working to expand access to surgery and reduce the distance patients travel for care, all while providing patients like Isis with free, comprehensive cleft care.

By partnering with local communities and healthcare providers, we can equip district hospitals and invest in local infrastructure to make sure everyone has access to the high-quality care they deserve.