Pyari Mithal’s Journey to a True Smile

Pyari Mithal, a 74-year-old woman, waited decades to see herself free from a facial deformity. She was born in 1946 in Kashmore, interior Sindh (Pakistan) as the first child of her parents, with a cleft lip—at a time when society was deeply influenced by superstition and false beliefs.

A Childhood Marked by Rejection

While recalling her childhood, Pyari shared heartbreaking memories. At birth, many relatives refused to hold her and blamed her condition on sin or divine punishment. These accusations led to constant conflict between her parents, eventually resulting in divorce.

Despite the cruelty of society, her mother stood firm. She lovingly named her Pyari, meaning beautiful, and insisted that everyone call her by that name. Determined to protect her daughter, she took Pyari to her maternal grandparents in Tharparkar, Sindh.

However, life there was no easier. Pyari was blamed for misfortunes and isolated from other children. She watched them play from a distance, longing to join but held back by fear of ridicule. She never attended school and rarely stepped outside her home. Because of her facial deformity, she was never considered for marriage and was excluded from family gatherings, as people believed her presence brought bad luck.

Struggles for Survival

As financial hardship struck the family and earning members passed away, Pyari had no choice but to seek work. Without education, she tried to make handicrafts or work as domestic help, but was rejected everywhere because of her appearance.

A Ray of Hope

One day, she met a family whose child had undergone cleft lip surgery through a Smile Home Trust surgical mission in Thar. For the first time in her life, Pyari learned that her condition was treatable. It felt unbelievable.

She later discovered that Smile Home Trust, in collaboration with Smile Train, was organizing another free cleft surgery camp in Larkana, nearly 400 km away. Initially, she felt hopeless due to lack of money, but when she contacted the organization, she learned that the surgery and transportation would be provided completely free of cost.

The Life-Changing Moment

In March 2020, Pyari finally underwent surgery. Sitting in the OPD before the procedure, she was overwhelmed with shock and disbelief. During her preoperative assessment, she shared her painful life story with Dr. Irfan Ishaq, the chief surgeon.

The day after surgery, when she looked in the mirror, tears rolled down her face. She thanked Smile Home Trust and Smile Train for making this life-changing surgery possible.

For decades, she had lived feeling unwanted. That day, she finally saw not just a new face—but a new life.

She might have had one question in her mind:

Who is responsible for all the years of misery I have spent in this world as an unacceptable member of this society?