We first decided to conduct a medical mission to El Salvador through a conversation on an airplane between Board Member Monnie Biety and international philanthropist Jack Cain. As luck would have it, this conversation would lead to connections on site in El Salvador and 3 life-changing medical missions.

Fast forward a few years, and we are now looking to Gale Knight, post op/ward nurse from Michigan who has been volunteering with Mending Faces for eight years. Two years ago, Gale was involved in another mission in El Salvador through an organization called Helping Hands that focuses on other physical deformities such as hernias, burns, and breast masses. Through that mission, Gale was able to make connections to the Hospital Nacional de Ninos Benjamin Bloom (HNNBB). Her connections at HNNBB allowed us, Mending Faces, to get connected with the First Lady of El Salvador when we were on the ground in San Salvador in October 2022.

With this connection to the government and to other philanthropic organizations in El Salvador working with the same targeted populations, we know we will be able to continue our Annual Mission to El Salvador. We now have a direct line to patients that need our help to receive life changing surgeries. Thank you to the First Lady, to our friends at HNNBB, and to Gale Knight for making the connection!