4 ½ Year-Old from Honduras Will Receive Free Surgery March 23 as Part of Operation Smile’s World Care Program

Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity, in partnership with Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD), will provide free facial reconstructive surgery for Wendy Maria Gutiérrez , a 4 1/2 year-old girl from Azacualpa, Honduras.  She joins more than 200 other patients that have received treatment as part of Operation Smile’s World Care Program.  Wendy, who was born with a cleft lip, will receive surgery on Tuesday, March 23 at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk.  Operation Smile CEO and Co-founder Dr. Bill Magee will perform the surgery. CHKD will provide all operating room expenses, including the surgical site, equipment, medications, anesthesia, nursing and post-op care, at no cost to the patient. 

Maria and her parents live in a small village of approximately 2,000 residents in southwestern Honduras and belong to an indigenous community called Lenca, which is the largest indigenous group in Honduras. Her father is a farmer and makes a modest living growing rice, beans, and potatoes. As the family’s only child, they were desperately searching for a way to repair their child’s facial deformity so Wendy could attend school.  Through Operation Smile’s World Care Program, she will receive the free surgery that will transform her life forever.

Maria and her mother and father arrived in Hampton Roads on March 13 and will stay approximately two weeks.  The Cooper family of Virginia Beach will serve as hosts during their visit.  Dan and Laurie Cooper, along with their three children are thrilled to have the family in their home.  Wendy will also receive free medical care from pediatrician, Dr. David Norris, and dentist, Dr. Keith Goldstein.

The timing of their trip to Hampton Roads coincides with the Operation Smile Final Mile being run on Saturday, March 20, as part of The Shamrock Sportsfest.  Over the past several months, more than 2,900 elementary school students from more than 150 schools in Virginia and the U.S. have been running 25.2 miles, in order to run their final mile for a total of 26.2 miles, the equivalent of a marathon.  The Operation Smile Final Mile program is a way for children to get fit and raise awareness and money for children around the world suffering with facial deformities.  On Saturday, March 20 at 11:00am, Wendy will be brought on stage and introduced to the runners after they have completed their race.  This will be an opportunity for these students to see firsthand the impact they can have on children with facial deformities.

About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Founded in 1982 by Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding, Operation Smile has treated more than 145,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in more than 50 countries. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.