Mending Faces

05/25/2026

FNE International Mending Faces team hard at work in the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

05/17/2026

05/16/2026

Our volunteers are heading home from the Dominican Republic after a week of surgeries. Tired, yet Hearts full. ♥️ We restored hope and provided a brighter future for children whose lives were burdened by cleft lip and cleft palate. .international

05/15/2026

Day 5 – Discharges and More Surgeries, Tracy Dailey

Today brought 4 more smiling faces discharged home and 3 more facial surgeries completed, along with several additional outpatient procedures throughout the day.

By now, what once felt like organized chaos has transformed into a beautiful rhythm. Every part of the team moves together with such purpose and compassion—from pre-op, to the operating room, to recovery, to the ward. The coordination behind the scenes is incredible to witness, and somehow each day seems to run even smoother than the last.

As the mission begins wrapping up tomorrow, there’s a bittersweet feeling settling in. In just a few short days, so many lives have been touched through the skill, compassion, and teamwork of this incredible group of volunteers and healthcare professionals.

The resilience of these children, the gratitude of the families, and the joy that follows each successful surgery has been unforgettable to witness. So much hope, healing, and heart packed into a single week.

05/15/2026

Day 4 – More Discharges and Surgeries, Tracy Dailey

Today brought 7 more smiling families discharged home and 4 more facial surgeries completed. Our youngest patient was just 7 months old, and our oldest was 4 years old.

Watching each part of the team come together to care for these children has been incredible to witness. From the surgical waiting area, to the operating room, to PACU, and finally to the ward, every patient is carried through the day by so many caring hands across two very busy hospital floors.

What has impressed me most is the coordination happening behind the scenes. I’ve caught glimpses of the constant communication, schedule changes, and problem-solving required to keep everything moving smoothly—and I’m truly in awe of how gracefully this team navigates it all.

Each day continues to remind me how much compassion, teamwork, and dedication go into changing lives one surgery at a time. .international

05/14/2026

Day 3 — Discharges and More Surgeries

This morning, patients from yesterday’s surgeries were happily discharged home with new healing smiles and faces. Many left wearing handmade gowns and even newly decorated shoes. Their resilience after just one night was incredible to witness.

Today brought 7 more surgeries, along with a few additional adult cases that the surgical team graciously took on using local anesthesia. One of those patients was the caregiver of one of our pediatric patients earlier today, and her gratitude for the care she received today was deeply touching.

By day three, the team is working like a well-oiled machine. Each day we continue refining our process, allowing everything to run even more smoothly. It’s hard to believe it’s only day three — so much has been packed into each day in the very best ways.

05/13/2026

Day 2 — The Surgeries Begin, By Tracy Dailey

Today was our first full surgery day with Mending Faces. What began as 7 scheduled surgeries quickly became 8 after two additional cases were added and only one needed to be moved to tomorrow.

Our patients today ranged from just 18 months old to 11 years old, and every single one of them showed incredible bravery — along with the family members waiting patiently beside them. One of the older boys proudly practiced his English with us, and he was very good at it. In return, everyone showed so much kindness and patience with my attempts at Spanish.

One of the most amazing parts of today was witnessing the operating room in action. Watching this team of surgeons, anesthesia providers, PA’s, nurses, and staff work together so seamlessly — despite limitations that would be unimaginable in many U.S. hospitals — was truly inspiring. Their skill, teamwork, and heart were evident in every moment.

A particularly touching moment for my mom came when a returning mother gently tapped her on the shoulder and showed her photos on her phone from last year — pictures of my mom holding her child during their first surgery trip. This year, that same sweet boy returned for the second stage of his journey and another life-changing surgery.

It was a beautiful reminder that these missions are about so much more than procedures. They’re about relationships, hope, healing, and getting to witness lives being changed one child at a time. ❤️ .international

05/11/2026

Through the Eyes of a Photographer 📸 Yesterday was intake and screening day with Mending Faces here in the Dominican Republic. As the team photographer, I spent the day documenting volunteers, patients, and families as each child was photographed holding their file for medical records. What stayed with me most was the desperation and hope in the eyes of so many parents seeking help for their children. Despite the medical challenges these children face, they were still playful, smiling, and full of life.

It was amazing to see a child return after receiving surgery during a previous mission. The transformation was incredible to witness. You could see the trust this family had in the team and the confidence they felt returning for continued care and support. It was a reminder that this mission is not only changing appearances, but truly changing lives and giving children hope for the future.

It was inspiring to watch the team interact with the children. It is hard to fully describe unless you experience it in person, but you could clearly see that every team member truly loves what they are doing. The compassion, patience, and genuine care they showed each child was evident throughout the day. Seeing the trust in the children’s eyes and the gratitude from their families is something I will not forget.

The entire experience affected me more than I expected. At times I became so emotionally invested in what I was witnessing that I almost forgot I was there as the photographer. I will try to spend the rest of the mission staying more focused behind the camera, but after just one day, I can already tell that is going to be difficult.

05/11/2026

Our Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 mission 2026 has began! On Saturday our team arrived, and yesterday was screening day. From our volunteer, Tracy Dailey: Day 1 — Screening Day ❤️

Today we screened 24 precious children, including a few sweet faces returning from last year. Seeing their bright eyes and hopeful smiles reminds us why this work matters so much.

On Mother’s Day, it feels especially meaningful to witness the incredible love, patience, and strength of these moms and grandmothers as they bring their babies to be scheduled for life-changing surgeries this week.

Grateful to be here and honored to be part of their journey. ❤️ .international