GO SMILE Surgery for( Olivia Hale)

I want to tell you a little bit about Olivia Hale, my friend I met at The Moebius Syndrome conference, who has Moebius Syndrome. But first for those who don't know what Moebius Syndrome is.
Möbius syndrome (also spelled Moebius) is an extremely rare congenital neurological disorder which is characterized by facial paralysis and the inability to move the eyes from side to side. Most people with Möbius syndrome are born with complete facial paralysis (which leaves them unable to smile), or unable to form facial expressions. Limb and chest wall abnormalities sometimes occur with this syndrome. People with Möbius syndrome have normal intelligence, although their lack of facial expression is sometimes incorrectly taken due to dullness or unfriendliness.

Olivia is a 13 year old who has Moebius Syndrome. Her mother, Laci, contacted me via Facebook after my article came out in the Moebius News article.
I met Olivia at the Moebius Conference and we instantly became friends. I could barely hold back my tears. I stood in awe of her; she is such a pretty young lady. But as she started talking to me, all these emotions started coming back. She was just like me-- from her face, how she talked, her facial paralysis... even her energy was just like mine.
I saw this little girl who was so full of life, so energetic. I could tell right away if she was happy or sad (Even though she was unable to Smile). I finally understood what my parents always told me. They told me that before I had my smile they could read my emotions in my eyes. I now understand what they meant.
As I was talking to her mom and Thomas, (my friend who came with me to the Moebius Conference) was talking to Olivia, Thomas said she looked over at me as I smiled and said, "I want that, her smile is so beautiful, I want that." When I heard that I could not help but cry.
Laci told me more about Olivia.
Laci told me about Olivia's breaking point, which was at a football game. Olivia is in the Flag color guard at her school and at this particular football game, all of the other flag girls were standing around taking pictures. They were talking about how they smile and pose for the camera, (Olivia felt left out), because she is unable to smile.
Olivia's personality reminds me of myself. She has a WONDERFUL mother who would go to extreme lengths to give her daughter everything she wants like a parent should. I can understand Olivia's pain and her struggles. I know what it feels like to look at other people's smile and wish I had that smile, because I used to be that girl, before my Smile surgery. I know exactly what it's like to have your picture taken and not be able to smile. I know and have been through that.
Yes, it's true, we all take things for granted. That saying is so true.
It’s scary we don't know what we have until it's gone-- or in this case, we never had it at all-- something as small as a smile.
You cannot possibly know how detrimental, it is to realize you're missing something so basic, that everyone else takes for granted. Something you've never had or experienced. You really can't take anything for granted.
Olivia wants the smile surgery. And you know what, she deserves it. She deserves to smile when getting her picture taken. She deserves to smile at someone walking across the street. She deserves to know what it feels like, what it looks like. And when someone says smile, and you give that complete smile for the first time... the feeling takes your breath away! You definitely become more humble... you sure as hell don't take things for granted!
They were trying to push forward with her smile surgery, it's a pricey surgery, but due to Unforeseen events, now her smile surgery doesn't seem so hopeful. Her family is going through a little rough patch right now. That's where I feel like I can make a difference with her dream of being able to smile. I really want my Friend to Have A Smile, so I'm setting up a GoFundMe page in hopes that she can receive the Smile, that can forever change her life. If you can please help and Donate to OLIVIA’S GO SMILE Page Fundraiser, I would greatly appreciate it and I know she would too.