We Build Hope

Proof of Care That Began on Day One

Junior Jeremias is always flashing his broad smile.

November 17, 2025

When you visit Junior Jeremias at his home in rural Guatemala, you find a confident, spunky 5-year-old with a wide smile.

He’s come a long way from being the newborn Operation Smile volunteers first met when he was just 1 day old and in need of cleft surgery. A nurse had introduced his mom, Brenda, to us – and they have been a part of our family ever since.

Junior Jeremias has already been through two surgeries and will be receiving a bone graft when he is older. Living with his mother and grandparents less than an hour from Guatemala City means he can reach care in the capital without an exhausting journey — a reality not shared by most families in Guatemala, where 80% of patients must travel more than two hours to access the care they need.

Operation 100 is our commitment to bringing care closer to home for all patients. We’re doing this by enhancing infrastructure, training local care providers and ensuring essential equipment is available not only in large city hospitals, but regionals ones, too.

Always a charmer, Junior Jeremias arrives for his appointments donning his favorite hat and boots, greeting everyone with hugs and a big smile, already dancing his way through life.

Today, the care he receives includes speech therapy and dental care.

The scar that’s lightly visible in his broad smile is proof of care — care that began on day one.

Help Build Hope

For over 40 years, we have been transforming care by strengthening health care systems and building sustainable solutions. Now through Operation 100, we are bringing that essential care even closer to patients, near their communities. Sign up today discover more stories of hope.

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