Student Council is embarking on a bold campaign with Smile Network to fund 50 surgeries for cleft lip patients in Puebla, Mexico. In order to educate the staff and student body about the campaign, student council representatives, Becca Mattson and Emma Keiski and faculty member, Stephanie Wegner, traveled to Puebla to participate in the identification of the patients and the actual surgeries.
On Monday, the student body observed the event on a live skype broadcast. At the presentation the students saw Alita Watson, SW alum '87 and Smile Network representative, provide background information about the occurence of cleft lip deformity and she provided translation services.
The students met 2 patients: Nellie who had a bi-lateral cleft lip and Sebastian who had a cleft palette and was also deaf in one ear. Southwest students were able to meet the familles and ask them questions. The parents were able to explain to us exactly what the surgeries meant to their families.
The stories were powerful and the students and faculty were astounded by the magnitude of the positive effect these surgeries provide for these people. Next, the students met doctors Raj Sarpal from the Mayo Clinic and Dr. Eseduro from Mexico City.
The students asked the doctors about the surgeries and why they volunteer their time to the Smile Network campaign. Finally, the students spoke to Becca, Emma, and Ms. Wegner. This portion of the broadcast had an astounding effect on the students as they heard from their peers stories about meeting patients, observing surgeries. and other realities about the life changing surgeries.
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