 Austin Smiles,
co-founded by
Dr. Parker, is
a nonprofit organization which provides
reconstructive plastic
surgery, primarily cleft lip and palate repairs, to the children
of Austin and the ten county areas surrounding
Austin and in
various locations in Latin America.A cleft lip is an opening
in the lip. A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the
mouth. About one in 700 babies is born with a cleft lip and/or
palate because parts of the face and mouth failed to come
together properly in the early months of fetal life. Due to
genetic traits, poor medical care, and lack of treatment,
children with cleft lip and palate deformities, along with their
families, are ostracized with no chance for a productive future.
The physicians of Austin Smiles, including
Dr. Parker,
perform 50-75 surgeries annually at Children's Hospital of
Austin. Austin Smiles also travels to Latin America to do
several medical missions a year. Since it was founded in 1987,
Austin Smiles has completed over 2500 corrective surgeries to
children and those needing assistance.
The corrective surgery provided by Austin Smiles surgeons
allows restoration of close to normal speech, hearing, eating,
and enhancement of the breathing ability to a child. The
family's ability to pay does not influence the quality or
availability of care received from the Austin Smiles surgeons.
Ninety-five percent (90%) of the funds raised by Austin
Smiles are used to provide medical services that support our
mission. Only 10 percent of the funds we raise are
used for administrative or fundraising purposes.
For more information about Austin Smiles and how to
volunteer,
click here. |
