When Ake was born, his parents worried about his future. They feared his peers would tease him at school and his self-esteem would be affected. Extended family members believed the cause of his #cleftcondition was because the family was bad luck. No one wanted to take pictures of him. Ake's family makes their living from their cassava and rice fields, and they gathered enough money to travel to a surgical program hosted by @operationsmilethailand. Once they arrived, the family realized that they were not bad luck because they saw many other children just like Ake, who hoped for a brighter future. After surgery, Ake has a newfound confidence and often flashes his new smile in photos. Learn how you can help a child like Ake at operationsmile.org