Dasha has facial paralysis and needs surgery.

When Dasha experiences strong emotions—whether she cries or laughs—her mouth pulls to one side. The girl has already undergone two surgeries to treat facial paralysis. She now needs one final operation. One side of her face was completely immobile. The only microsurgeon in Russia capable of performing this procedure, based in Yaroslavl, first grafted a nerve taken from under Dasha’s knee to the healthy side of her face. Over the course of a year, it gradually grew into the affected cheek. Then, a muscle flap from her thigh was transplanted onto the now reinnervated side. After several months of rehabilitation, Dasha developed a completely new smile, and her eye began to close more naturally. But it turned out that scar tissue from the last surgery is pulling her cheek inward. Unfortunately, conservative treatments have not helped, so another surgery is needed to restore symmetry to her face. This is not just about a smile or appearance. This affects her self-esteem, her ability to connect with others, and her future. Let’s help Dasha get through this final step.