Grace Pettet was born in 2024 in Washington state with a severe cleft lip and palate. Thankfully she was born in a country where she has access to skilled surgeons who will provide free treatment for as long as she needs it.
Grace’s surgeon is Dr Chris Zarella, a veteran of many Alliance for Smiles trips. During the consultation for one of Grace’s many procedures, Dr Zarella spoke to Grace’s mom Brandy about the work he does with AfS. Brandy was so moved that she has dedicated herself to raising money and awareness about cleft, so that children in other countries can have the same access to care that Grace had.
As Brandy has said, “her goal is to empower Grace so that as she grows up, she sees cleft as something that makes her feel strong and empowered to help others.”
